Seeking assistance with 2 by 2 fMRI 2nd level analysis errors

Hello everyone,

I am currently working on an fMRI study with a 2 by 2 design, involving a single group of 36 participants. I have successfully processed the data using the fMRI pipeline and am now encountering issues during the 2nd level analysis. Also, I am using Matlab R2023a and SPM12 and I am running the SPM12 toolbox on Matlab by connecting to my university’s VPN.

Here is the script for my batch:

matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.dir = {'D:\2ndlevel'};
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).name = 'Self-Other';
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).levels = 2;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).dept = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).variance = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).gmsca = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(1).ancova = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).name = 'Present-Future';
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).levels = 2;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).dept = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).variance = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).gmsca = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.fact(2).ancova = 0;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(1).levels = [1
                                                                    1];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(1).scans = {
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_27\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_28\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_30\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_31\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_32\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_33\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_34\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_36\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_37\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_38\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_39\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_40\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_41\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_42\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_45\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_48\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_52\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_57\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_54\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_58\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_62\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_63\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_64\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_66\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_68\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_70\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_71\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_72\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_73\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_74\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_76\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_78\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_80\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_81\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_83\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_90\con_0001.nii'
                                                                   };
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(2).levels = [1
                                                                    2];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(2).scans = {
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_27\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_28\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_30\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_31\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_32\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_33\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_34\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_36\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_37\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_38\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_39\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_40\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_41\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_42\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_45\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_48\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_52\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_57\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_54\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_58\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_62\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_63\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_64\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_66\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_68\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_70\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_71\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_72\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_73\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_74\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_76\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_78\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_80\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_81\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_83\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_90\con_0002.nii'
                                                                   };
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(3).levels = [2
                                                                    1];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(3).scans = {
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_27\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_28\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_30\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_31\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_32\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_33\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_34\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_36\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_37\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_38\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_39\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_40\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_41\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_42\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_45\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_48\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_52\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_57\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_54\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_58\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_62\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_63\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_64\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_66\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_68\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_70\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_71\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_72\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_73\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_74\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_76\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_78\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_80\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_81\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_83\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_90\con_0003.nii'
                                                                   };
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(4).levels = [2
                                                                    2];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.icell(4).scans = {
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_27\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_28\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_30\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_31\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_32\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_33\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_34\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_36\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_37\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_38\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_39\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_40\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_41\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_42\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_45\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_48\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_52\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_57\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_54\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_58\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_62\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_63\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_64\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_66\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_68\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_70\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_71\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_72\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_73\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_74\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_76\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_78\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_80\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_81\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_83\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   'D:\1stlevel_Copy\subj_90\con_0004.nii'
                                                                   };
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.des.fd.contrasts = 1;
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(1).c = [14.28
                                                      16.14
                                                      17
                                                      17.56
                                                      14.18
                                                      17.1
                                                      16.52
                                                      15.77
                                                      14.2
                                                      16.5
                                                      15
                                                      16.2
                                                      16.8
                                                      16.78
                                                      17.69
                                                      16.6
                                                      17.34
                                                      17.2
                                                      12.23
                                                      16.78
                                                      17.69
                                                      16.78
                                                      17.69
                                                      15.89
                                                      17.51
                                                      15.99
                                                      15
                                                      12.57
                                                      16.42
                                                      15.47
                                                      17.33
                                                      17.86
                                                      15.76
                                                      16.98
                                                      17.78
                                                      16];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(1).cname = 'Age';
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(1).iCFI = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(1).iCC = 5;
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(2).c = [1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      2
                                                      2
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1
                                                      1];
%%
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(2).cname = 'Sex';
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(2).iCFI = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.cov(2).iCC = 5;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.multi_cov = struct('files', {}, 'iCFI', {}, 'iCC', {});
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.masking.tm.tm_none = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.masking.im = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.masking.em = {''};
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.globalc.g_omit = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.globalm.gmsca.gmsca_no = 1;
matlabbatch{1}.spm.stats.factorial_design.globalm.glonorm = 1;
matlabbatch{2}.spm.stats.fmri_est.spmmat(1) = cfg_dep('Factorial design specification: SPM.mat File', substruct('.','val', '{}',{1}, '.','val', '{}',{1}, '.','val', '{}',{1}), substruct('.','spmmat'));
matlabbatch{2}.spm.stats.fmri_est.write_residuals = 0;
matlabbatch{2}.spm.stats.fmri_est.method.Classical = 1;

When I try to run my batch, I get this error:
Error using horzcat
Dimensions of arrays being concatenated are not consistent.

Could anyone please give me advice as to what is going wrong?

Thank you in advance!