4,071 research outputs found
Disentangling causal webs in the brain using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A review of current approaches
In the past two decades, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging has been used
to relate neuronal network activity to cognitive processing and behaviour.
Recently this approach has been augmented by algorithms that allow us to infer
causal links between component populations of neuronal networks. Multiple
inference procedures have been proposed to approach this research question but
so far, each method has limitations when it comes to establishing whole-brain
connectivity patterns. In this work, we discuss eight ways to infer causality
in fMRI research: Bayesian Nets, Dynamical Causal Modelling, Granger Causality,
Likelihood Ratios, LiNGAM, Patel's Tau, Structural Equation Modelling, and
Transfer Entropy. We finish with formulating some recommendations for the
future directions in this area
Non-parametric Bayesian modeling of complex networks
Modeling structure in complex networks using Bayesian non-parametrics makes
it possible to specify flexible model structures and infer the adequate model
complexity from the observed data. This paper provides a gentle introduction to
non-parametric Bayesian modeling of complex networks: Using an infinite mixture
model as running example we go through the steps of deriving the model as an
infinite limit of a finite parametric model, inferring the model parameters by
Markov chain Monte Carlo, and checking the model's fit and predictive
performance. We explain how advanced non-parametric models for complex networks
can be derived and point out relevant literature
Different approaches to community detection
A precise definition of what constitutes a community in networks has remained
elusive. Consequently, network scientists have compared community detection
algorithms on benchmark networks with a particular form of community structure
and classified them based on the mathematical techniques they employ. However,
this comparison can be misleading because apparent similarities in their
mathematical machinery can disguise different reasons for why we would want to
employ community detection in the first place. Here we provide a focused review
of these different motivations that underpin community detection. This
problem-driven classification is useful in applied network science, where it is
important to select an appropriate algorithm for the given purpose. Moreover,
highlighting the different approaches to community detection also delineates
the many lines of research and points out open directions and avenues for
future research.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Written as a chapter for forthcoming Advances in
network clustering and blockmodeling, and based on an extended version of The
many facets of community detection in complex networks, Appl. Netw. Sci. 2: 4
(2017) by the same author
Structure Learning in Coupled Dynamical Systems and Dynamic Causal Modelling
Identifying a coupled dynamical system out of many plausible candidates, each
of which could serve as the underlying generator of some observed measurements,
is a profoundly ill posed problem that commonly arises when modelling real
world phenomena. In this review, we detail a set of statistical procedures for
inferring the structure of nonlinear coupled dynamical systems (structure
learning), which has proved useful in neuroscience research. A key focus here
is the comparison of competing models of (ie, hypotheses about) network
architectures and implicit coupling functions in terms of their Bayesian model
evidence. These methods are collectively referred to as dynamical casual
modelling (DCM). We focus on a relatively new approach that is proving
remarkably useful; namely, Bayesian model reduction (BMR), which enables rapid
evaluation and comparison of models that differ in their network architecture.
We illustrate the usefulness of these techniques through modelling
neurovascular coupling (cellular pathways linking neuronal and vascular
systems), whose function is an active focus of research in neurobiology and the
imaging of coupled neuronal systems
Graphs in machine learning: an introduction
Graphs are commonly used to characterise interactions between objects of
interest. Because they are based on a straightforward formalism, they are used
in many scientific fields from computer science to historical sciences. In this
paper, we give an introduction to some methods relying on graphs for learning.
This includes both unsupervised and supervised methods. Unsupervised learning
algorithms usually aim at visualising graphs in latent spaces and/or clustering
the nodes. Both focus on extracting knowledge from graph topologies. While most
existing techniques are only applicable to static graphs, where edges do not
evolve through time, recent developments have shown that they could be extended
to deal with evolving networks. In a supervised context, one generally aims at
inferring labels or numerical values attached to nodes using both the graph
and, when they are available, node characteristics. Balancing the two sources
of information can be challenging, especially as they can disagree locally or
globally. In both contexts, supervised and un-supervised, data can be
relational (augmented with one or several global graphs) as described above, or
graph valued. In this latter case, each object of interest is given as a full
graph (possibly completed by other characteristics). In this context, natural
tasks include graph clustering (as in producing clusters of graphs rather than
clusters of nodes in a single graph), graph classification, etc. 1 Real
networks One of the first practical studies on graphs can be dated back to the
original work of Moreno [51] in the 30s. Since then, there has been a growing
interest in graph analysis associated with strong developments in the modelling
and the processing of these data. Graphs are now used in many scientific
fields. In Biology [54, 2, 7], for instance, metabolic networks can describe
pathways of biochemical reactions [41], while in social sciences networks are
used to represent relation ties between actors [66, 56, 36, 34]. Other examples
include powergrids [71] and the web [75]. Recently, networks have also been
considered in other areas such as geography [22] and history [59, 39]. In
machine learning, networks are seen as powerful tools to model problems in
order to extract information from data and for prediction purposes. This is the
object of this paper. For more complete surveys, we refer to [28, 62, 49, 45].
In this section, we introduce notations and highlight properties shared by most
real networks. In Section 2, we then consider methods aiming at extracting
information from a unique network. We will particularly focus on clustering
methods where the goal is to find clusters of vertices. Finally, in Section 3,
techniques that take a series of networks into account, where each network i
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