Speaker

• Bianca Monachesi, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste
• Elisabetta Pisanu, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste

Scientific Coordinator

Alessandro Grecucci, Università di Trento

Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research has significantly advanced our understanding of brain function. However, individual studies often face limitations such as small sample sizes, variability in experimental designs, and issues with reproducibility.

Meta-analyses overcome these challenges by synthesizing data across multiple studies, enabling the identification of brain regions that consistently respond across experiments, therefore providing robust and reliable insights into neural processes.

This seminar is aimed at providing both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to perform coordinate-based meta-analyses in fMRI research.

The seminar begins with an overview of meta-analysis, its purpose, applications, and relevance in addressing the limitations of individual studies. Participants will be introduced to different meta-analytic approaches, with a focus on Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE), discussing its strengths and limitations. The seminar will then guide participants through the step-by-step process of conducting a meta-analysis, starting with the systematic review of the literature.

Attendees will learn how to use databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Neurosynth, implement effective search strategies, apply appropriate filters, and organize results. The session will also cover the creation of PRISMA flowcharts to document the study selection process, combining theoretical concepts with practical demonstrations. The seminar will then focus on hands-on data analysis using GingerALE software. Participants will learn how to format and input functional neuroimaging coordinates, select statistical parameters, run ALE analyses, and apply proper statistical corrections. Lastly, the seminar will cover the interpretation of analysis outputs and the visualization of results through the creation of activation maps. Practical guidance on how to report results will be provided, along with references for further reading and exploration.

By the end of the seminar, participants will be fully equipped to independently conduct task-based ALE meta-analyses on functional neuroimaging data and effectively communicate their findings in research publications.