Weighted averaging in spectroscopic studies improves statistical power.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In vivo MRS is often characterized by a spectral signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that varies highly between experiments. A common design for spectroscopic studies is to compare the ratio of two spectral peak amplitudes between groups, e.g. individual PCr/γ-ATP ratios in ³¹ P-MRS. The uncertainty on this ratio is often neglected. We wished to explore this assumption.

Theory

The canonical theory for the propagation of uncertainty on the ratio of two spectral peaks and its incorporation in the Frequentist hypothesis testing framework by weighted averaging is presented.

Methods

Two retrospective re-analyses of studies comparing spectral peak ratios and one prospective simulation were performed using both the weighted and unweighted methods.

Results

I

SUBMITTER: Miller JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5697704 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature