Multiple regression analysis applied to EEG and MEG data

These tools apply multiple linear regression to EEG and MEG data, in contrast to conventional factorial averaging. In short, they provide as output the solution b of the linear equation y=Xb, where y are the data, X the "design matrix" including the predictor variables for all items (e.g. word length, familiarity, etc.), and b contains one regression coefficient per predictor variable.

The input can be Neuroscan cnt-files (EEG) or Neuromag fiff-files (MEG), respectively. The output are either ascii, avg (EEG) or fiff-files (MEG), which can be processes just as conventional ERP/ERFs, e.g. with respect to source analysis or statistics. These tools are still under development. If you would like more information, please contact olaf.hauk@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk . A different approach to regression analysis is also part of SPM5.

In order to run your analysis, you will end up with a script like the following:

• % The parameters following ### are defined once for all input files:

### #correl_type combine

+ #param_file /whateverthepath/param_file.txt % file that defines predictor variables for each trigger value

+ #correl_columns 3 4 5 6 7 8 % specifies which columns in param_file contain the predictor variables

+ #trigger_columns 2 % specifies which column in param_file.txt contains trigger value (can be more than 1 column)

+ #info_file /whateverthepath/info_file.txt % output file for number of valid trials per input file

+ #mag_thresholds 2500 0 1500 0 % tresholds for artefact rejection, magnetometers (fT)

+ #grad_thresholds 1000 0 800 0 % tresholds for artefact rejection, gradiometers (fT/cm)

+ #eog_channels 307 308 % channel number of EOG channels

+ #thresholds 150 0 100 0 % tresholds for artefact rejection, EOG (uV)

+ #baseline -100 0 % interval for baseline correction with respect to trigger onset

+ #epoch_length 500 % length of epoch to be analysed

+ #pre_stim_time -100 % start latency of epoch (can be different from baseline)

%

% The following commands are specified for individual input files:

#fif /whateverthepath/MEG_infile.fif % input fiff-file

+ #outfif /whateverthepath/MEG_outfile.fif % base for output fiff-file (there will be different files for different regressors)

+ #fiff_template /whateverthepath/MEG_template.fif % if specified, sensor information from this file will be used for output

%

% Add more files in the same way:

#fif /whateverthepath/MEG_infile2.fif % input fiff-file

+ #outfif /whateverthepath/MEG_outfile2.fif % base for output fiff-file (there will be different files for different regressors)

+ #fiff_template /whateverthepath/MEG_template2.fif % if specified, sensor information from this file will be used for output

%

% If you want to assign new values to the triggers in the fiff-file, add "#event_list":

#fif /whateverthepath/MEG_infile3.fif % input fiff-file

+ #outfif /whateverthepath/MEG_outfile3.fif % base for output fiff-file (there will be different files for different regressors)

+ #fiff_template /whateverthepath/MEG_template3.fif % will be used for head coordinates

+ #event_list /whateverthepath/events3.txt 1 % The "1" indicates the column(s) in events3.txt that contain(s) the new trigger values. The file must contain as many values as there are triggers in the fiff-file. It will only produce a warning if this is not the case (see the log-file info_file.info_log), so be aware!

So far, these programs have been applied to EEG data in visual word recognition experiments:

• Hauk, O., Davis, M. H., Ford, M., Pulvermüller, F., & Marslen-Wilson, W. D. (2006). The time course of visual word recognition as revealed by linear regression analysis of ERP data. Neuroimage, 30(4), 1383-1400.

• Hauk, O., Pulvermüller, F., Ford, M., Marslen-Wilson, W. D., & Davis, M. H. (2008). Can I have a quick word? Early electrophysiological manifestations of psycholinguistic processes revealed by event-related regression analysis of the EEG. Biol Psychol.

More on linear regression can be found in standard text books, such as:

• Montgomery, D. C., Peck, E. A., & Vining, G. G. (2006). Introduction to Linear Regression Analysis. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.