Applications of Neuroimaging using Machine Learning

and Deep Learning Techniques

Dr. Ambily Merlin Kuruvilla, Associate Professor, PG Department of Computer Applications
and Artificial Intelligence, Saintgits College of Applied Sciences.

Kevin Justees, Third Year BCA Students, PG Department of Computer Applications and
Artificial Intelligence, Saintgits College of Applied Sciences.

Jerrin John, Third Year BCA Students, PG Department of Computer Applications and
Artificial Intelligence, Saintgits College of Applied Sciences.

Motti Zachariah Varghese, Third Year BCA Students, PG Department of Computer

Applications and Artificial Intelligence, Saintgits College of Applied Sciences.

Nandana P, Third Year BCA Students, PG Department of Computer Applications and

Artificial Intelligence, Saintgits College of Applied Sciences.

Abstract
Neuroimaging allows us to study the brain in both health and disease, neuroimaging is
essential to clinical care and research. The morphological structure, physiological
architecture, and corresponding imaging features of the brain are intricately linked.
A person's brain changes in shape, function, and relationships between different parts as
they develop, grow, get sick, and recover. Neuroimaging is one of the few fields that fully
utilizes modern analysis tools to investigate the brain and its function from imaging data.
ML has begun to play a role in the following areas recently tracking changes in imaging
over time, quickly identifying acute disorders like stroke and anatomical measurements,
detection, segmentation, and quantification of lesions and disease patterns. As our capacity
to visualize and study the brain.
Keywords: ML, DL, SVM, CNN, MRI, fMRI, ANN, PET, EEG: Machine Learning, Deep
Learning, Support Vector Machines, Convolutional Neural Networks, Magnetic Resonance
Imaging, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Artificial Neural Network, Positron
Emission Tomography, Electroencephalography.

1. INTRODUCTION
Neuroimaging, the process of visualizing the structure and function of the brain, has greatly
benefited from the integration of ML and DL techniques. These methodologies offer
powerful tools to analyse complex patterns within neuroimaging data, facilitating both
diagnosis and understanding of neurological disorders. ML algorithms, such as SVM and
random forests, have been employed for tasks like classification of brain images based on
specific features or biomarkers. These methods excel at identifying subtle differences in
brain structure or activity that might elude human observers, thus aiding in the early
detection and differentiation of conditions like Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia.

DL, a subset of ML that utilizes ANN with multiple layers, has revolutionized neuroimaging
analysis. CNN, in particular, have shown remarkable success in tasks like image
segmentation, where regions of interest within brain scans are delineated automatically. This
capability is invaluable for neuroscientists and clinicians seeking to pinpoint areas of
abnormality or track changes over time in conditions such as brain tumours or multiple
sclerosis. Moreover, DL techniques enable the extraction of hierarchical representations
from raw neuroimaging data, uncovering intricate patterns that may hold crucial insights into
brain function and dysfunction.

The integration of ML and DL into neuroimaging workflows also extends to functional

imaging modalities like fMRI and electroencephalography (EEG). These techniques capture
brain activity in real-time, generating vast amounts of data that require sophisticated
analysis. ML algorithms can decode complex neural signals, enabling tasks such as
predicting cognitive states or characterizing brain connectivity networks. DL architectures,
such as recurrent neural networks (RNN) and graph neural networks (GNN), are well-suited
for modelling temporal dynamics and capturing complex interactions between brain regions,
advancing our understanding of brain networks and their role in cognition and disease.

Overall, the synergy between neuroimaging and ML/DL techniques holds tremendous
promise for advancing our understanding of the brain and improving clinical outcomes for
neurological and psychiatric disorders. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence,
researchers and clinicians can unlock new insights into brain structure, function, and
pathology, ultimately leading to more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments, and
enhanced patient care.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

 Karl-Heinz Nenning et al.[1] Because it allows us to study the brain in both health and
disease, neuroimaging is essential to clinical care and research. The morphological
structure, physiological architecture, and corresponding imaging features of the brain
are intricately linked. A person's brain changes in shape, function, and relationships
between different parts as they grow, age, get sick, and recover. Neuroimaging is one
of the few fields that fully utilizes modern analysis tools to investigate the brain and
its function from imaging data. ML has begun to play a role in the following areas
recently: (a) tracking changes in imaging over time; (b) quickly identifying acute
disorders like stroke; and (c) anatomical measurements, detection, segmentation, and
quantification of lesions and disease patterns. Our knowledge of the complex
relationships inside the brain and how they affect therapeutic decision-making is
expanding along with our capacity to visualize and analyse the brain

 Mahsa Dadar et al.[2] In this research, we present a comprehensive overview of ML

methods used to extract clinical classifiers from structural MRI data. To help
researchers better apply these methodologies in future works, we carefully address
practical issues that are frequently seen in the literature. Furthermore, in order to
present a thorough picture of the state of the art in several domains, we examine how
these algorithms are used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions (such as
Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), autism, multiple sclerosis,
traumatic brain injury, etc.).

 Daniel Ranti et al.[3] Understanding the vast amount of intricate electronic data that
hospital systems have accumulated over the years could transform modern medicine,
but it also poses many difficulties. DL is particularly well-suited to tackle these
problems, and the field of medical ML is set for revolutionary expansion because to
recent developments in methods and hardware. Because neurologic diseases often
 manifest with mild symptoms, the clinical neurosciences stand to gain most from
these developments. Here, we review the various domains where deep learning
algorithms have already sparked change: medical image segmentation for the
quantitative assessment of neuroanatomy and vasculature; connectome mapping for
the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder; mining of microscopic EEG signals and granular genetic
signatures; and medical image analysis for the improved diagnosis of Alzheimer's
disease and the early detection of acute neurologic events. We also address the
obstacles to addressing the current problems and highlight significant obstacles in the
incorporation of DL techniques in the therapeutic setting.

 Ritu Gautam et al.[4] This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of DL techniques

for prognosticating eight neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders—stroke,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, autism, migraine, cerebral palsy, and multiple
sclerosis. These disorders pose significant health risks and can lead to further
complications. Utilizing insights from 136 relevant publications, the research explores
the methodologies and frameworks employed by various DL algorithms in diagnosing
these conditions. It examines morbidity and mortality rates, analyzes the performance
and publication trends of deep learning methods, and scrutinizes key performance
metrics. The study underscores the need for further investigation into DL models for
diagnosing stroke, cerebral palsy, and migraine, while also identifying opportunities
to leverage Deep Boltzmann Machine, Restricted Boltzmann Machine, and Deep
Belief Network for diagnosing neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

 Bin Jiang et al.[5] Numerous DL based clinical applications related to radiology have
been proposed and investigated. These applications include risk assessment,
segmentation tasks, diagnosis, prognosis, and even therapeutic response prediction.
Other cutting-edge uses of AI in medical imaging include the removal of image
artifacts, normalization and harmonisation of images, enhancement of image quality,
reduction of radiation and contrast dose, and abbreviation of imaging study duration.
These applications are specifically focused on the technical aspects of medical
imaging and are particularly relevant to image acquisition. This paper will discuss this
subject and aim to give a general overview of DL methods used in neuroimaging.

 Peter A. Bandettini et al.[6] Neuroscience research has changed as a result of the

quick development of neuroimaging techniques and their expanding accessibility. The
quality of the data we are able to gather regarding the locations, dynamics,
fluctuations, magnitudes, and types of brain activity and structural changes will
determine the answers to many of the questions we have about how the brain is
structured. An attempt is made to capture the state-of-the-art in a small portion of the
quickly developing field of neuroimaging in this review. A brief background is given
for each topic discussed, along with an overview of some of the most recent
advancements and problems. The next section describes a few notable articles that
were published within the last year or two, giving an idea of the paths that each field
is heading in. Among the topics discussed are PET, EEG, magnetoencephalography
(MEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), optical
imaging, and fMRI.

 Soonmee Cha et al.[7] The field of neuroimaging brain tumors has changed over time,
moving from being primarily focused on morphology to also including function,
 physiology, and anatomy. In addition to summarizing the most recent developments
in physiology-based imaging techniques that support established brain tumor imaging
procedures, this review describes the current imaging standard for patients with brain
tumors. A summary of various modern imaging techniques, such as diffusion-
weighted MRI, perfusion MRI, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS)
imaging, is included along with an emphasis on the advantages and disadvantages of
the current imaging standards. Each imaging technique's fundamental physical
concepts are briefly explained, followed by a more thorough examination of its
therapeutic applications and its drawbacks.

 Manan Binth Taj Noor et al.[8]Over the past few decades, neuroimaging—more
specifically, MRI—has been more crucial in our understanding of brain functioning
and illnesses. Innovative ML approaches and high-performance computing tools have
made it possible to identify neurological illnesses with previously unheard-of
precision thanks to these state-of-the-art MRI scans. However, it is exceedingly
challenging to reliably identify such illnesses from the acquired neuroimaging data
due to similarities in disease characteristics. In order to identify neurological disorders
—with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's
disease—this article critically evaluates and contrasts the capabilities of the current
DL - based techniques using MRI data obtained using various modalities, such as
functional and structural MRI.

 Grega Repovš et al.[9] The assumption of linearity in neural processes by classic

statistical methods limits their applicability to the analysis of neuroimaging data, as
this work explores. It presents DL as a viable strategy to get beyond these restrictions,
outlining its fundamental ideas and typical uses in neuroimaging research, such as
data collection, segmentation, internal representation interpretation, and outcome
prediction. The study discusses and suggests possible solutions for deep learning's
problems with multidimensionality, multimodality, overfitting, and computing
expense. The current application of DL in neuroimaging analysis is assessed, with a
focus on the potential benefits of multimodality, raw data processing, and
sophisticated visualization techniques. Research gaps and avenues for future
investigation are noted, including the use of RDoC, transfer learning, and synthetic
data generation frameworks.

 Li Zhang et al.[10] Recently, DL has been applied to the analysis of neuroimages,

including PET, structural MRI, and fMRI. Compared to traditional ML, DL has
significantly improved performance in computer-aided diagnosis of brain disorders.
The uses of DL techniques for the analysis of brain disorders based on neuroimaging
are reviewed in this work. By introducing several kinds of deep neural networks and
recent advancements, we first give a thorough overview of DL techniques and widely
used network structures. Next, we examine DL techniques for computer-assisted
examination of four common brain disorders: schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease,
Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder. The latter two disorders are
psychiatric and neurodevelopmental, respectively, and the first two are
neurodegenerative.

 Jyoti Islam et al.[11] Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neurological brain ailment

that is incurable. Prompt detection of Alzheimer's disease can aid in appropriate
management and avert harm to brain tissue. Researchers have used a number of
 statistical and ML models to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The exacting nature of
Alzheimer's Disease detection stems from the similarities between standard healthy
older people's MRI data and MRI data associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Modern
DL methods have recently shown themselves to be as effective as humans in a variety
of domains, including the processing of medical images. We suggest utilizing brain
MRI data analysis to diagnose Alzheimer's disease using a deep CNN. We have
performed extensive tests to show that, on the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies
(OASIS) dataset, our suggested model performs better than comparing baselines.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

In this paper on neuroimaging using ML and DL techniques, several key findings and
discussions emerge. Firstly, the integration of ML and DL methodologies into neuroimaging
has significantly advanced the field, enabling more accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and
understanding of neurological disorders. ML algorithms such as support vector machines and
random forests have demonstrated efficacy in classifying brain images and identifying
biomarkers for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. DL techniques, particularly
CNN, have shown remarkable success in tasks like image segmentation and feature
extraction, providing insights into brain structure and function. The results highlight the
importance of these techniques in handling complex multivariate patterns in neuroimaging
data. Additionally, discussions focus on the challenges faced, including data preprocessing,
model interpretability, and generalization to new datasets.

Despite these challenges, the survey underscores the immense potential of ML and DL in
advancing neuroimaging research and clinical applications. Further research directions are
proposed, emphasizing the need for standardization, robust validation methods, and
interdisciplinary collaborations to maximize the impact of ML and DL in neuroimaging.
Overall, the survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state, challenges, and
future prospects of neuroimaging using ML and DL techniques, offering valuable insights for
researchers and practitioners in the field.

4. CONCLUSION
In summary, the integration of ML and DL techniques into neuroimaging has revolutionized
our understanding and diagnosis of neurological disorders. ML algorithms, such as SVM and
random forests, excel in classifying brain images for early detection and differentiation of
conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, while DL methods, notably CNN, offer
unparalleled accuracy in tasks like image segmentation, enabling precise delineation of brain
regions. Despite challenges like data multidimensionality and overfitting, innovative
solutions like transfer learning and synthetic data generation hold promise. Standardized
methodologies for architecture and hyperparameter selection are crucial moving forward.
With these advancements, neuroimaging promises to unveil new insights into brain function
and pathology, leading to enhanced diagnostics, personalized treatments, and improved
patient outcomes.

5. REFERENCES

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[2] José María Mateos-Pérez, Mahsa Dadar, María Lacalle-Aurioles, Yasser Iturria-Medina,
Yashar Zeighami, Alan C. Evans, “Structural neuroimaging as clinical predictor: A review of
machine learning applications”, NeuroImage: Clinical, Volume 20, 2018, Pages 506-522,
ISSN 2213-1582, doi: 10.1016/[Link].2018.08.019.

[3] Valliani, [Link]., Ranti, D. & Oermann, E.K. “Deep Learning and Neurology: A
Systematic Review”. Neurol Ther 8, 351–365 (2019), doi: 10.1007/s40120-019-00153-8

[4] Gautam, R., Sharma, M. “Prevalence and Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders Using
Different Deep Learning Techniques: A Meta-Analysis”. J Med Syst 44, 49 (2020), doi:
10.1007/s10916-019-1519-7
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Deep Learning to Neuro-Imaging Techniques”. Front. Neurol. 10:869.
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[6] Bandettini P. A. (2009). “What's new in neuroimaging methods?”. Annals of the New
York Academy of Sciences, 1156, 260–293, doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04420.x

[7] Soonmee Cha (2009). “Neuroimaging in Neuro-Oncology”. Neurotherapeutics: The

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[8] Noor, M.B.T., Zenia, N.Z., Kaiser, M.S. et al. “Application of deep learning in detecting
neurological disorders from magnetic resonance images: a survey on the detection of
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia”. Brain Inf. 7, 11 (2020), doi:
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[9] Avberšek LK and Repovš G (2022) “Deep learning in neuroimaging data analysis:
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[10] Zhang L, Wang M, Liu M and Zhang D (2020) “A Survey on Deep Learning for
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[11] J. Islam and Y. Zhang, “Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease: A Neuroimaging Study
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