Online Analysis of Functional MRI Datasets on Parallel Platforms

We describe a new capability for analyzing and visualizing brain activity while a subject is performing a cognitive or perceptual task in a magnetic resonance scanner. This online capability integrates geographically distributed hardware (scanner, parallel computer, visualization platform) via commodity networking. We describe how we parallelized the existing analysis software and present results for the three main classes of parallel platforms. Finally we discuss some of the new possibilities this online capability presents for scientific studies and clinical intervention.

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