ROC methods for evaluation of fMRI techniques

Abstract

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methods provide a standardized and statistically meaningful means for comparing signal-detection accuracy. A brief overview of ROC methods is presented. Example applications include a comparison of four different postprocessing algorithms operating on simulated fMRI time-course data sets and on human null data sets to which a simulated fMR response had been added. ROC methods also were used to reanalyze one data set from a previously published work. Additional ROC methods that also may be useful for fMRI comparisons are described.