A

Image-based meta- and mega-analysis (IBMMA): A unified framework for large-scale, multi-site, neuroimaging data analysis

NeuroImage, vol. 322, pp. 121554

Abstract

Abstract The increasing scale and complexity of neuroimaging datasets aggregated from multiple study sites present substantial analytic challenges, as existing statistical analysis tools struggle to handle missing voxel-data, suffer from limited computational speed and inefficient memory allocation, and are restricted in the types of statistical designs they are able to model. We introduce Image-Based Meta- & Mega-Analysis (IBMMA), a novel software package implemented in R and Python that provides a unified framework for analyzing diverse neuroimaging features, efficiently handles large-scale datasets through parallel processing, offers flexible statistical modeling options, and properly manages missing voxel-data commonly encountered in multi-site studies. IBMMA produced stronger effect sizes and revealed findings in brain regions that traditional software overlooked due to missing voxel-data resulting in gaps in brain coverage. IBMMA has the potential to accelerate discoveries in neuroscience and enhance the clinical utility of neuroimaging findings.

Authors 93

  1. University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

  2. Duke University

    Affiliation as printed

    Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA

  3. Duke University

    Affiliation as printed

    Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA

  4. Duke University

    Affiliation as printed

    Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA

  5. University of Rochester Medicine · University of Rochester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

  6. The University of Melbourne · Orygen

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; The University of Orygen, Parkville, Australia

    Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Orygen, Parkville, Australia

  7. The University of Melbourne

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

  8. The University of Melbourne · Orygen

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; The University of Orygen, Parkville, Australia

    Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Orygen, Parkville, Australia

  9. University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  10. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences CCM, Berlin, Germany

    Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences CCM, Berlin, Germany

  11. University of Southern California

    Affiliation as printed

    Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

  12. University of Southern California

    Affiliation as printed

    Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

  13. University of Southern California

    Affiliation as printed

    Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

  14. Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, the Netherlands

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands

  15. Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; De Viersprong Mental Health Specialist in Personality Disorders, Family and Behavior, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    De Viersprong mental health specialist in personality disorders, family and behavior, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  16. Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Vrije Universiteit, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Vrije Universiteit, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  17. Radboud University Nijmegen · Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

  18. Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  19. Utrecht University · Amsterdam Neuroscience · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

  20. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  21. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  22. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  23. University of Cape Town

    Affiliation as printed

    SA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

  24. University of Cape Town

    Affiliation as printed

    SA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

  25. Columbia University Irving Medical Center · New York State Psychiatric Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

  26. Columbia University Irving Medical Center · New York State Psychiatric Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

  27. New York State Psychiatric Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

  28. University of Haifa

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

  29. Tel Aviv University

    Affiliation as printed

    Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

  30. Emory University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

  31. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

  32. Emory University · Wayne State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

  33. Emory University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

  34. Emory University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

  35. Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

  36. Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

  37. University of Groningen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

  38. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    University Medical Centre Charité, Berlin, Germany

  39. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    University Medical Centre Charité, Berlin, Germany

  40. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    University Medical Centre Charité, Berlin, Germany

  41. Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

  42. Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

  43. Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

  44. Heidelberg University · Central Institute of Mental Health · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Germany

    Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, partner site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm

  45. Heidelberg University · Central Institute of Mental Health · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Germany

    Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; German Center for Mental Health, partner site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm

  46. Central European Institute of Technology · Masaryk University · Central European Institute of Technology – Masaryk University

    Affiliation as printed

    CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Multimodal and Functional Neuroimaging Research Group, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

  47. Central European Institute of Technology · Masaryk University · Central European Institute of Technology – Masaryk University · St. Anne's University Hospital Brno

    Affiliation as printed

    CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Multimodal and Functional Neuroimaging Research Group, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; First Department of Neurology, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

    First Department of Neurology, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Multimodal and Functional Neuroimaging Research Group, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

  48. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Womens Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA

  49. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA

  50. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA

  51. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, MA, USA

  52. Harvard University · McLean Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, MA, USA

  53. Texas A&M University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA

  54. University of Minnesota · Minneapolis VA Health Care System · Minneapolis VA Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

  55. University of Minnesota · Minneapolis VA Health Care System · Minneapolis VA Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

  56. Minneapolis VA Health Care System

    Affiliation as printed

    Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA

  57. University of Münster

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

  58. University of Münster

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

  59. Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command · Nanjing University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

  60. Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital · Nanjing University

    Affiliation as printed

    Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

  61. University of Toledo

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

  62. University of Toledo

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

  63. University of Toledo

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

  64. UNSW Sydney · Neuroscience Research Australia

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia

  65. Université de Tours · Inserm · Imaging, Brain, and Neuropsychiatry

    Affiliation as printed

    Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France

  66. University of Minnesota

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

  67. University of Minnesota

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

  68. University of Missouri–St. Louis

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Psychological Sciences, Center for Trauma Recovery, St. Louis, MO, USA

  69. The University of Texas at Austin

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

  70. Northwestern University

    Affiliation as printed

    Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative, Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research, Evanston, IL, USA

  71. University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA

  72. University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

  73. University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

  74. University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

  75. Medical College of Wisconsin

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA; Comprehensive Injury Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA

  76. Medical College of Wisconsin

    Affiliation as printed

    Comprehensive Injury Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA

    Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA; Comprehensive Injury Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA

  77. Marquette University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA

  78. University of California San Diego

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; Stein Institute for Research on Aging & Center for Healthy Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

  79. University of California San Diego

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

  80. University of California San Diego

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

  81. Boston University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Dept. of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

  82. University of California San Diego · VA San Diego Healthcare System · Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, LA Jolla, CA, USA

  83. Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TN, USA

  84. University of Nebraska Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA

  85. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, TN, USA

  86. Washington University in St. Louis

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

  87. Baylor College of Medicine · Yale University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

  88. Western University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

  89. Western University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

  90. Western University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

  91. Western University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

  92. University of Southern California

    Affiliation as printed

    Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

  93. Duke University

    Affiliation as printed

    Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: Delin.Sun@duke.edu

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: Delin.Sun@duke.edu

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References 21