Cross-Disciplinary Feasibility Account : Computational Statistics and Cognitive Neuroscience

功能磁共振成像（fMRI）和脑磁图（MEG）的能力为临床和认知神经科学家研究正常和病变脑功能提供了诱人的新研究领域。在格拉斯哥，认知神经科学家正在进行国际上杰出的研究，包括听觉认知、面部识别和感觉整合，所有这些都需要充分利用功能磁共振成像和脑磁图的潜力。与此同时，格拉斯哥的计算科学家和统计学家与生命科学家合作，在多学科研究方面处于领先地位，开发了新的方法，以应对阐明复杂生物机制所需的系统观点的挑战。虽然认知神经科学和系统生物学似乎是完全正交的研究领域，但它们都需要基于证据的科学推断。它们还经常共享公共数据结构，涉及大的p（变量数量）和小的n（案例数量）制度。因此，这提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，可以探索在一个领域开发的推理技术对另一个领域问题的潜力。因此，迫切需要加速统计推断、计算科学和认知神经科学研究小组的跨学科研究活动，以确保英国保持国际领先的研究形象。格拉斯哥有独特的专用功能磁共振成像和脑磁图研究设施，现在可以开发新的实验程序来研究大脑功能。然而，数据建模和分析的计算统计方法对于理解和解释结果数据是必要的，需要与神经科学家并行研究和开发。我们对听觉认知等过程的理解即将取得重大突破，但先进的推理机制必须得到发展，并以系统和连贯的方式提供。我们希望成为一个领先的国际机构，它有认知、计算和统计科学家共同努力，推动系统认知神经科学的发展。鉴于我们与生命科学家在多学科研究方面的成功记录（见小组网页www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/inference），研究小组正在寻求在这一新的多学科研究努力中产生重大影响。

The capabilities of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are providing tantalising new frontiers of investigation for clinical and cognitive neuroscientists studying normal and diseased brain function. In Glasgow cognitive neuroscientists are undertaking internationally pre-eminent research into auditory cognition, face recognition, and sensory integration all of which need to exploit the potential of fMRI and MEG to the full. At the same time Glasgow computing scientists and statisticians working with life-scientists are leading the way in multi-disciplinary research developing the novel methodologies necessary to meet the challenges of the systems view required to elucidate complex biological mechanisms. Whilst cognitive neuroscience and systems biology seem quite orthogonal domains of research they share the need of evidence-based scientific inference. They also often share common data structures, involving large p (number of variables) and small n (number of cases) regimes. This therefore provides an exciting opportunity to explore the potential of inferential techniques developed in one domain to problems in the other. There is therefore an urgent need for the acceleration of strong engagement in cross-disciplinary research activities of the statistical inference, computational science, and cognitive neuroscience research groups to ensure that the UK maintains an internationally leading research profile. Novel experimental procedures can now be developed to study brain function given the unique resource of dedicated fMRI and MEG research facilities at Glasgow. However the computational statistical methods of data modelling and analysis necessary to make sense of and interpret the resulting data need to be researched and developed in parallel and in partnership with the neuroscientists. We are on the verge of making significant breakthroughs in our understanding of processes such as auditory cognition but the advanced inferential machinery must be developed and made available in a systematic and coherent manner. We wish to be established as a leading international facility, which has cognitive, computing, and statistical scientists working in concert driving forward systems cognitive neuroscience. Given our successful track record in multi-disciplinary research with life-scientists ( see group webpage www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/inference) the research group is seeking to make a major impact in this new multi-disciplinary research endeavour.