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¥Data Preparation: Parameter Normalization
HParameters quantifying activation must be normalized before group comparisons.
åFMRI signal amplitude varies for different subjects, runs, scanning sessions, regressors, image reconstruction software, modeling strategies, etc.
HAmplitude measures (regression coefficients) can be turned to percent signal change from baseline (do it before the individual analysis in 3dDeconvolve).
åEquations to use with 3dcalc to calculate percent signal change
í100 bi / b0 (basic formula)
í100 bi / b0 * c  (mask out the outside of the brain)
bi  = coefficient for regressor i (output from 3dDeconvolve)
b0 = baseline estimate (output from 3dTstat -mean)
c  = threshold value generated from running 3dAutomask -dilate
åThis will be included into 3dDeconvolve in a future release
HOther normalization methods, such as z-score transformations of statistics, can also be used.