> Should I get the ACF values from each subject's first-level errts_REML, average those, and then feed those into 3dClustSim?
> Or is it okay if I just get the ACF values from the 3dLME residuals and use those for 3dClustSim?
Theoretically speaking the ACF estimates from the 3dLME residuals should be fine for 3dClustSim. It would be interesting to compare the ACF estimates at the group level and the ones at the individual level.
> I was wondering - would it be ok to make my outcome variable the first-level contrast of interest? (i.e., cue_negative-cue_neutral#Coef)?
If the contrast is what you're looking for, then running the group analysis directly with the contrast is preferred, and makes everything more straightforward.
Gang