Cross-Disciplinary Feasibility Account : Computational Statistics and Cognitive Neuroscience

功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和脑磁图（MEG）的能力为研究正常和患病脑功能的临床和认知神经科学家提供了诱人的新研究前沿。在格拉斯哥，认知神经科学家们正在进行听觉认知、面部识别和感觉整合方面的国际领先研究，所有这些研究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一起工作，在多学科研究中处于领先地位，开发了必要的新方法，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相当正交的研究领域，但它们都需要基于证据的科学推理。它们还经常共享共同的数据结构，涉及大p（变量数）和小n（案例数）机制。因此，这提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，探索在一个领域中开发的推理技术在其他领域中的问题的潜力。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概况。由于格拉斯哥有专门的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需要与神经科学家合作并行研究和开发，以理解和解释所产生的数据。我们即将在对听觉认知等过程的理解上取得重大突破，但必须以系统和连贯的方式开发和提供先进的推理机制。我们希望成为一个领先的国际机构，拥有认知，计算和统计科学家，共同推动系统认知神经科学的发展。鉴于我们在与生命科学家进行多学科研究方面的成功记录（见集团网页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.