Optimal multi-subject fMRI experiments

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a neuroimaging method which is used to study the human brain and its functional areas. In multi-subject fMRI experiments, data from several subjects is collected while these subjects perform each the same task of interest, e.g., passive viewing of houses presented on a screen, in the scanner. In my talk optimal designs for multi-subject fMRI experiments with fixed experimental budget are considered. The optimal combination of number of subjects and fMRI scanner time/imaging time per subject will be studied. Analytical and numerical results based on a linear mixed effects model with uncorrelated and correlated errors will be presented for common parameters of fMRI experiments. It will be shown how the optimal number of subjects and optimal scanner