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MindBridge: A Cross-Subject Brain Decoding Framework (2404.07850v1)

Published 11 Apr 2024 in cs.CV and cs.AI

Abstract: Brain decoding, a pivotal field in neuroscience, aims to reconstruct stimuli from acquired brain signals, primarily utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Currently, brain decoding is confined to a per-subject-per-model paradigm, limiting its applicability to the same individual for whom the decoding model is trained. This constraint stems from three key challenges: 1) the inherent variability in input dimensions across subjects due to differences in brain size; 2) the unique intrinsic neural patterns, influencing how different individuals perceive and process sensory information; 3) limited data availability for new subjects in real-world scenarios hampers the performance of decoding models. In this paper, we present a novel approach, MindBridge, that achieves cross-subject brain decoding by employing only one model. Our proposed framework establishes a generic paradigm capable of addressing these challenges by introducing biological-inspired aggregation function and novel cyclic fMRI reconstruction mechanism for subject-invariant representation learning. Notably, by cycle reconstruction of fMRI, MindBridge can enable novel fMRI synthesis, which also can serve as pseudo data augmentation. Within the framework, we also devise a novel reset-tuning method for adapting a pretrained model to a new subject. Experimental results demonstrate MindBridge's ability to reconstruct images for multiple subjects, which is competitive with dedicated subject-specific models. Furthermore, with limited data for a new subject, we achieve a high level of decoding accuracy, surpassing that of subject-specific models. This advancement in cross-subject brain decoding suggests promising directions for wider applications in neuroscience and indicates potential for more efficient utilization of limited fMRI data in real-world scenarios. Project page: https://littlepure2333.github.io/MindBridge

PDF HTML Abstract

An Overview of MindBridge: A Cross-Subject Brain Decoding Framework

The paper "MindBridge: A Cross-Subject Brain Decoding Framework" introduces a sophisticated model aimed at advancing the domain of brain decoding using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brain decoding, which endeavors to reconstruct stimuli from brain signal data, predominantly operates in a per-subject-per-model framework, which inherently limits the scalability and applicability of these approaches to broader populations. MindBridge addresses this limitation by proposing a single model capable of handling cross-subject data, thereby potentially broadening the application domain in practical settings like neuroscience and brain-computer interfaces.

Technical Insights and Methodology

The authors identify three significant challenges in the current paradigm of brain decoding: inter-subject variability in brain size, unique intrinsic neural patterns, and limited data availability for new subjects. To counter these, MindBridge leverages a biologically-inspired aggregation function and introduces a novel cyclic fMRI reconstruction mechanism to facilitate subject-invariant representation learning.

Key Methodologies Include:

  1. Adaptive Signal Aggregation: By incorporating neural-scientific principles about sparse neural activation, MindBridge employs adaptive max pooling to extract salient information and normalize the input dimension across different subjects. This technique plays a crucial role in dealing with the variability across individual brain structures.
  2. Subject-Invariant Representation: MindBridge proposes a unique method of subject-invariant representation learning using cyclic fMRI reconstruction, enabling the synthesis of novel fMRI data. This approach allows the model to learn generalized embeddings that persist across individual differences, aligning them within a consistent representational space.
  3. Reset-Tuning Finetuning Strategy: For scenarios involving new subjects with limited data, the paper introduces a reset-tuning approach. This method resets shallow layers while preserving deeper layers that contain transferable knowledge, facilitating more effective adaptation to new subjects.
  4. Versatile Diffusion Model Integration: MindBridge utilizes a multi-modal versatile diffusion (VD) model, driven by vector representations from both visual and textual data, allowing it to generate images that better capture semantic fidelity when reconstructing stimuli.

Empirical Validation

The paper demonstrates the efficacy of MindBridge using the Natural Scenes Dataset (NSD), which is composed of high-resolution fMRI data collected from multiple subjects. The experimental results reveal that MindBridge can achieve comparable performance to state-of-the-art methods that require subject-specific models, even when using a single model for all subjects. Moreover, it shows promising results in scenarios with novel subject adaptation, significantly reducing the amount of fMRI data needed.

Quantitative metrics, including PixCorr, SSIM, and CLIP similarity, along with qualitative assessments highlight MindBridge's capability to reconstruct images with high semantic accuracy and visual fidelity across multiple subjects. Additionally, the novelty of using cyclic fMRI reconstruction for novel fMRI synthesis underscores MindBridge's capacity to augment available data, surmounting data scarcity challenges.

Implications and Future Directions

The success of MindBridge in cross-subject brain decoding could redefine the utility of brain-computer interface applications, making them more versatile and accessible. By enabling accurate decoding with minimal data, the framework promises to decrease the overhead for training models on new subjects, which is critical for real-world application, especially in medical and assistive technology domains.

Future research could expand MindBridge’s applicability by integrating larger and more diverse datasets to assess its generalizability further. Additionally, ethical considerations and safeguards should accompany the advancement of such technology, given the privacy concerns associated with brain data.

In conclusion, MindBridge presents a significant step towards flexible, efficient, and scalable brain decoding, showcasing both methodological innovation and practical potential. Its success lays a foundation upon which further advancements can build, fostering a more inclusive and effective application of AI in neuroscience research.

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Authors (4)
  1. Shizun Wang (10 papers)
  2. Songhua Liu (33 papers)
  3. Zhenxiong Tan (14 papers)
  4. Xinchao Wang (203 papers)
Citations (10)
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