GUI BASED AUTOMATION FOR DCM MODEL SPECIFICATION FOR

CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS
Vijay Raj Y1,2,3, Arun K M 1 , Smitha K A1, C Kesavadas1
Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology1, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Clinical
Engineering Dept2 , CMC Vellore, Dept. of Biotechnology3, IIT Madras

Background Methodology
• Cognitive neuroscientists is more interseted about
• PyAutoGui library of Python was used for automation of SPM 12 toolbox.
activation at the level of neuronal systems to
• Resting fMRI data of 20 subjects were collected, and target areas were language areas.16 models to be made for
hypothesize about cognitive processes.
each of the 20 subjects.
• Imaging techniques do not generate data at this level,
• Each operation was programmed per step in sub process and sequentially all sub processes are programmed
but give output relating to non-linear correlates e.g.
completing automating the complete process ,that is estimating single model.
fMRI hemodynamic response (BOLD signal)
• Click button, dropdown, radio button; and keystrokes were the operations in specifying DCM model.
• DCM attempts to talk about causality in neuronal
populations, since we know that signals propagate from Function to Operations
Total
Procedure Sub functions number of
some input through a system.1 Flow chart: PyAutoGUI work flow automate automated
operations
• Model specification is a tedious and time consuming task PROCEDURE 1 PROCEDURE1
Open patient
Double click 1
directory
• PyAutoGUI is a cross platform GUI module that enables Click DCM button on
Patient Click DCM button on SPM12 Menu Single click 1
to simulate mouse positions, click button, press keys.2
directory SPM12 Menu toolbar toolbar
• Helps to reduce the time taken for model specification Select specify from
drastically. Select specify from drop list in dynamic
Single click 2
drop list in dynamic casual modeling

constructions
16 model
casual modeling form form
Objective
Load SPM mat file Single click 2
• To automate the DCM model specification for a group of Load SPM mat file Type write
Specify DCM 2
subjects, thereby completing job in a faster, reliable, Enter
PROCEDURE2 Construct DCM
Single click
comprehensive manner.
PROCEDURE 2

model
Control A
Specify DCM Select VOI’s 7
Backspace
Dynamic Causal Modeling Enter
Input specification Single click 16
Select VOI's
PROCEDURE 3

Type write
Timing specification 3
Enter
Convolve it
Specify endogenous 1 to 4
with a Compare
Create a neural hemodynamic models in Input specifications connection form Single click (depending
model to represent model to terms of of model)
the hypothesis predict real model fit and PROCEDURE3
Change
Double click 1
signal from complexity directory
the scanner Timing Specifications
Results
Operations automated
Specify endogenous Task
Connection Matrix connection form
Neural model 16 model specification for single 688 (2.2 minutes)
patient
44 45 If 13797 (44 minutes)
= iterations< 16 model specification for 20 patients
= 16
• 13797 operations were automated, thereby completed 16-
47 model specification for 20 patients at a run time of 44
minutes.
44 45 47 • For each patient 688 operations was automated, at a run
Figure 1:represents an example for DCM model specification correlating to neural
model; 44,45 and 47 represent three different language-brodman areas time of 2.2 minutes.

Contact Acknowledgment: Department of Biotechnology, Government of India

Vijay Raj Y
Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology, References
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology 1. Dimitris Pinotsis, G. Perry, V. Litvak, K. Singh, and K.J. Friston. Intersubject variability of induced gamma in the visual cortex: DCM with empirical Bayes
and neural fields. Human Brain Mapping, 2016
Email: vijayrajb100796@gmail.com 2. Retrieved from http://pyautogui.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html