Using protocol-specific response functions and templates for FBA

[mkamykowski]

Hello,

Is it possible to perform FBA at the subject level instead of the group level? For instance, if it’s already possible to generate the tissue response functions and the population template using a subset of DWI data, then shouldn’t it also be possible to generate those outputs for a particular protocol and then use those outputs for any future FBA at the subject level that uses the same protocol? Here is what I think the workflow would look like:

1. Select a small cohort of healthy DWI data that were acquired using the same protocol.
2. Exclusively use the cohort from step 1 to generate tissue response functions, an FOD template, a template mask, and a fixel mask.
3. Perform FBA using the outputs mentioned in step 2 on any other DWI data that were acquired using the same protocol.

Does this workflow make sense or is there something I’m not seeing that makes protocol-specific FBA at the subject level not possible?

Thanks,
Mike

[smeisler]

@mkamykowski

For instance, if it’s already possible to generate the tissue response functions and the population template using a subset of DWI data, then shouldn’t it also be possible to generate those outputs for a particular protocol and then use those outputs for any future FBA at the subject level that uses the same protocol?

You would have to make sure for each subsequent subject that the estimated response function does not vary too far from the group response function. And confirm that the masks for each subsequent subject do not introduce new holes in the analysis masks.

Best,
Steven