Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.

Machine learning algorithms are becoming increasingly popular for decoding psychological constructs based on neural data. However, as a step towards bridging the gap between theory-driven cognitive neuroscience and data-driven decoding approaches, there is a need for methods that allow to interpret...

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Main Authors: Simon Valentin, Maximilian Harkotte, Tzvetan Popov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007148&type=printable
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author Simon Valentin
Maximilian Harkotte
Tzvetan Popov
author_facet Simon Valentin
Maximilian Harkotte
Tzvetan Popov
author_sort Simon Valentin
collection DOAJ
description Machine learning algorithms are becoming increasingly popular for decoding psychological constructs based on neural data. However, as a step towards bridging the gap between theory-driven cognitive neuroscience and data-driven decoding approaches, there is a need for methods that allow to interpret trained decoding models. The present study demonstrates grouped model reliance as a model-agnostic permutation-based approach to this problem. Grouped model reliance indicates the extent to which a trained model relies on conceptually related groups of variables, such as frequency bands or regions of interest in electroencephalographic (EEG) data. As a case study to demonstrate the method, random forest and support vector machine models were trained on within-participant single-trial EEG data from a Sternberg working memory task. Participants were asked to memorize a sequence of digits (0-9), varying randomly in length between one, four and seven digits, where EEG recordings for working memory load estimation were taken from a 3-second retention interval. The present results confirm previous findings insofar as both random forest and support vector machine models relied on alpha-band activity in most subjects. However, as revealed by further analyses, patterns in frequency and topography varied considerably between individuals, pointing to more pronounced inter-individual differences than previously reported.
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spelling doaj-art-1a0ca2cbc75e43aea3b42eb537b7e2262025-08-20T02:00:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582020-01-01161e100714810.1371/journal.pcbi.1007148Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.Simon ValentinMaximilian HarkotteTzvetan PopovMachine learning algorithms are becoming increasingly popular for decoding psychological constructs based on neural data. However, as a step towards bridging the gap between theory-driven cognitive neuroscience and data-driven decoding approaches, there is a need for methods that allow to interpret trained decoding models. The present study demonstrates grouped model reliance as a model-agnostic permutation-based approach to this problem. Grouped model reliance indicates the extent to which a trained model relies on conceptually related groups of variables, such as frequency bands or regions of interest in electroencephalographic (EEG) data. As a case study to demonstrate the method, random forest and support vector machine models were trained on within-participant single-trial EEG data from a Sternberg working memory task. Participants were asked to memorize a sequence of digits (0-9), varying randomly in length between one, four and seven digits, where EEG recordings for working memory load estimation were taken from a 3-second retention interval. The present results confirm previous findings insofar as both random forest and support vector machine models relied on alpha-band activity in most subjects. However, as revealed by further analyses, patterns in frequency and topography varied considerably between individuals, pointing to more pronounced inter-individual differences than previously reported.https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007148&type=printable
spellingShingle Simon Valentin
Maximilian Harkotte
Tzvetan Popov
Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
PLoS Computational Biology
title Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
title_full Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
title_fullStr Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
title_full_unstemmed Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
title_short Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance.
title_sort interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance
url https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007148&type=printable
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AT tzvetanpopov interpretingneuraldecodingmodelsusinggroupedmodelreliance