GLM on surface data in NiLearn

1

Does anyone know why NiLearn uses different functions to fit the glm for surface data versus volume data? Based on the tutorials run_glm is the only function that takes surface data whereas the main function nilearn.glm.first_level.FirstLevelModel only accepts niftis. Am I overlooking something or is this by design?

2

Hi,
Indeed in the example, we use low-level functions to run the GLM on the surface because… we have not yet implemented a high-level API that would be the equivalent of FirsLevelModel for surface data.
So I hope that we’ll propose something better in a future release.
HTH,
Bertrand

3

Thanks @bthirion . In future releases will FirstLevelModel take volume or surface data? Is there an open PR or issue on this? If no one is currently working on it I could try

Related question: is this tutorial still up to date for the current best practices in surface glm? I didn’t see any handling of confounds

4

Yes, the tutorial you mention is fine. In that case, you would need to handle confounds ‘manually’ by creating the design matrix first.
Let me suggest that you open an issue on Nilearn first: this is a way to get more people’s opinions.
Thx !

Bertrand

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5

@bthirion - Can you offer any guidance on analyzing multiple runs of surface data? This tutorial only covers one run. And unlike the volume functions, it doesn’t seem that the surface functions are set up to handle multiple runs of data

6

You have to do the fixed effects analysis “mnaually”.
You have an example in this file:

HTH,
Bertrand

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