title: Bootstrap-based methods for testing factor-by-curve interactions in generalized additive models: assessing prefrontal cortex neural activity related to decision-making.
abstract: In many situations the effect of a continuous covariate on response varies across groups defined by levels of a categorical variable. This paper addresses generalized additive models incorporating the so-called factor-by-curve interaction. A local scoring algorithm based on local linear kernel smoothers was used to estimate the model. Two different types of bootstrap-based procedures are proposed for testing interaction terms, namely, the likelihood ratio test, and a procedure based on an estimate of the interaction terms. Given the high computational cost involved, binning techniques were used to speed up computation in the estimation and testing processes. A simulation study was conducted to assess the validity of these bootstrap-based tests. This methodology was applied to studying prefrontal cortex neural activity associated with decision-making in monkeys. The proposed statistical procedure proved very useful in revealing the neural activity correlates of decision-making strategies adopted by monkeys in accordance with different behavioural tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roca-Pardiñas
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadarso-Suárez
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nácher
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acuña
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D000882:Haplorhini; D016015:Logistic Models; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors