Clusterwise Independent Component Analysis (C-ICA):An R package for clustering subjects based on ICA patterns underlying three-way (brain) data

In many areas of science, like neuroscience, genomics and text mining, several important and challenging research questions imply the study of (subject) heterogeneity present in three-way data. In clinical neuroscience, for example, disclosing differences or heterogeneity between subjects in resting state networks (RSNs) underlying multi-subject fMRI data (i.e., time by voxel by subject three-way data) may advance the subtyping of psychiatric and mental diseases. Recently, the Clusterwise Independent Component Analysis (C-ICA) method was proposed that enables the disclosure of heterogeneity between subjects in RSNs that is present in multi-subject rs-fMRI data [1]. Up to now, however, no publicly available software exists that allows to fit C-ICA to empirical data at hand. The goal of this paper, therefore, is to present the CICA R package, which contains the necessary functions to estimate the C-ICA parameters and to interpret and visualize the analysis output. Further, the package also includes functions to select suitable initial values for the C-ICA model parameters and to determine the optimal number of clusters and components for a given empirical data set (i.e., model selection). The use of the main functions of the package is discussed and demonstrated with simulated data. Herewith, the necessary analytical choices that have to be made by the user (e.g., starting values) are explained and showed step by step. The rich functionality of the package is further illustrated by applying C-ICA to empirical rs-fMRI data from a group of Alzheimer patients and elderly control subjects and to multi-country stock market data. Finally, extensions regarding the C-ICA algorithm and procedures for model selection that could be implemented in future releases of the package are discussed

Increasing the role of belief information in moral judgments by stimulating the right temporoparietal junction

a b s t r a c t Morality plays a vital role in our social life. A vast body of research has suggested that moral judgments rely on cognitive processes mediated by the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), an area thought to be involved in belief attribution. Here we assessed the role of the rTPJ in moral judgments directly by means of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) -a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that, by applying a weak current to the scalp, allows modulating cortical excitability of the area being stimulated. Participants were randomly and equally assigned to receive anodal stimulation (to increase cortical excitability), cathodal stimulation (to decrease cortical excitability), or sham (placebo) stimulation over the rTPJ before completing a moral judgment task. Participants read stories in which protagonists produced either a negative or a neutral outcome based on either a negative or a neutral belief that they were causing harm or no harm, respectively. Results revealed a selective group difference when judging the moral permissibility of accidental harms (belief neutral, outcome negative), but not intentional harms (belief negative, outcome negative), attempted harms (belief negative, outcome neutral), or neutral acts (belief neutral, outcome neutral). Specifically, participants who received anodal stimulation assigned less blame to accidental harms compared to participants who received cathodal or sham stimulation. These results are consistent with previous findings showing that the degree of rTPJ activation reflects reliance on the agent's innocent intention. Crucially, our findings provide direct evidence supporting the critical role of the rTPJ in mediating belief attribution for moral judgment

Early career researchers want Open Science : Comment

Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)Open Science is encouraged by the European Union and many other political and scientific institutions.However, scientific practice is proving slow to change.We propose, as early career researchers, that it is our task to change scientific research into open scientific research and commit to Open Science principles.Non peer reviewe

Cannabis and creativity: highly potent cannabis impairs divergent thinking in regular cannabis users

Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa

Health Professional Training and Capacity Strengthening Through International Academic Partnerships: The First Five Years of the Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda

Abstract Background: The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. Methods: The data for this organizational case study was collected through official reports from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) and 22 participating US academic institutions, databases from the MoH and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) in Rwanda, and surveys completed by the co-authors. Results: In the first 5 years of the HRH Program, a consortium of US academic institutions has deployed an average of 99 visiting faculty per year to support 22 training programs, which are on track to graduate almost 4600 students by 2019. The HRH Program has also built capacity within the CMHS by promoting the recruitment of Rwandan faculty and the establishment of additional partnerships and collaborations with the US academic institutions. Conclusion: The milestones achieved by the HRH Program have been substantial although some challenges persist. These challenges include adequately supporting the visiting faculty; pairing them with Rwandan faculty (twinning); ensuring strong communication and coordination among stakeholders; addressing mismatches in priorities between donors and implementers; the execution of a sustainability strategy; and the decision by one of the donors not to renew funding beyond March 2017. Over the next 2 academic years, it is critical for the sustainability of the 22 training programs supported by the HRH Program that the health-related Schools at the CMHS significantly scale up recruitment of new Rwandan faculty. The HRH Program can serve as a model for other training initiatives implemented in countries affected by a severe shortage of health professionals

OHBM and neurohackademy

poster presentatio