Flexible algorithm for real-time convolution supporting dynamic event-related fMRI

An efficient algorithm for generation of the task reference function has been developed that allows real-time statistical analysis of fMRI data, within the framework of the general linear model, for experiments with event-related stimulus designs. By leveraging time-stamped data collection in the Input/Output time-aWare Architecture (I/OWA), we detect the onset time of a stimulus as it is delivered to a subject. A dynamically updated list of detected stimulus event times is maintained in shared memory as a data stream and delivered as input to a real-time convolution algorithm. As each image is acquired from the MR scanner, the time-stamp of its acquisition is delivered via a second dynamically updated stream to the convolution algorithm, where a running convolution of the events with an estimated hemodynamic response function is computed at the image acquisition time and written to a third stream in memory. Output is interpreted as the activation reference function and treated as the covariate of interest in the I/OWA implementation of the general linear model. Statistical parametric maps are computed and displayed to the I/OWA user interface in less than the time between successive image acquisitions.