Bridging the big (data) gap: levels of control in small- and large-scale cognitive neuroscience research

Tibon, Roni; Geerligs, Linda; Campbell, Karen

Abstract

Recently, cognitive neuroscience has experienced unprecedented growth in the availability of large-scale datasets. These developments hold great methodological and theoretical promise: they allow increased statistical power, the use of nonparametric and generative models, the examination of individual differences, and more. Nevertheless, unlike most ‘traditional’ cognitive neuroscience research, which uses controlled experimental designs, large-scale projects often collect neuroimaging data not directly related to a particular task (e.g., resting state). This creates a gap between small- and large-scale studies that is not solely due to differences in sample size. Measures obtained with large-scale studies might tap into different neurocognitive mechanisms and thus show little overlap with the mechanisms probed by small-scale studies. In this opinion article, we aim to address this gap and its potential implications for the interpretation of research findings in cognitive neuroscience.

Citation

Tibon, R., Geerligs, L., & Campbell, K. (2022). Bridging the big (data) gap: levels of control in small- and large-scale cognitive neuroscience research. Trends in Neurosciences, 45(7), 507-516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2022.03.011

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Mar 29, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Apr 22, 2022
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 4, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 6, 2022
• Journal: Trends in Neurosciences
• Print ISSN: 0166-2236
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-108X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 507-516
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2022.03.011
• Keywords: General Neuroscience
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7952730
• Publisher URL: https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(22)00062-5
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166223622000625