Hello - 

I am posting in reference to:

Cabeza, R., Stanley, M. L., & Moscovitch, M. (2018). Process-specific alliances (PSAs) in cognitive neuroscience. Trends in cognitive sciences.

To keep it brief:

• I am looking to use task-based connectivity analysis in a mixed event-related/block design where subjects implement an affective-valence specific cognitive strategy (reappraise to improve mood) during 16 6s trials spaced over four 6min runs (5 trial types, randomized within-run with jittered ITI).

• My idea is to denoise as much lagged-BOLD response (HRF-convolved) and look at "absolute connectivity" per trial type, in theory targeting rapid, transient PSAs within two-node circuits. I see this as a level of analysis somewhere between network-level tbFC and rsFC. 

• I want to test hypotheses about PSAs during reappraisal (L. vlPFC/BA47 -> amygdala; negER) and (vmPFC -> accumbens; posER) as a function of depression+tobacco-use comorbidity.

• I have been combing the literature but am having difficulty finding any studies that confirm that this can be done with this type of experimental design, especially with a fair bit of motion artifact in the clinical populations.

• Is anyone aware of any methods studies that describe if this is possible, and if so, what denoising parameters are suggested?

Thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to provide.

Sincerely,
Patrick