Spatial Independent Components Analysis (ICA) is increasingly used in the context of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to study cognition and brain pathologies. Salient features present in some of the extracted Independent Components (ICs)
can be interpreted as brain networks, but the segmentation of the corresponding regions from ICs is still ill-controlled. Here we propose a new ICA-based procedure for extraction of sparse features from fMRI datasets. Specifically, we introduce a new thresholding procedure that controls the deviation from isotropy in the ICA mixing model. Unlike current heuristics, our procedure guarantees an exact, possibly conservative, level of specificity in feature detection. We evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the method on synthetic and fMRI data and show that it outperforms state-of-the-art approaches.
We propose a scheme for testing the weak equivalence principle (Universality of Free Fall) using an atom-interferometric measurement of the local differential acceleration between two atomic species with a large mass ratio as test masses. A apparatus
in free fall can be used to track atomic free-fall trajectories over large distances. We show how the differential acceleration can be extracted from the interferometric signal using Bayesian statistical estimation, even in the case of a large mass and laser wavelength difference. We show that this statistical estimation method does not suffer from acceleration noise of the platform and does not require repeatable experimental conditions. We specialize our discussion to a dual potassium/rubidium interferometer and extend our protocol with other atomic mixtures. Finally, we discuss the performances of the UFF test developed for the free-fall (0-g) airplane in the ICE project (verbhttp://www.ice-space.fr)
The accuracy and precision of current atom-interferometric inertialsensors rival state-of-the-art conventional devices using artifact-based test masses . Atomic sensors are well suited for fundamental measurements of gravito-inertial fields. The sens
itivity required to test gravitational theories can be achieved by extending the baseline of the interferometer. The I.C.E. (Interferometrie Coherente pour lEspace) interferometer aims to achieve long interrogation times in compact apparatus via reduced gravity. We have tested a cold-atom source during airplane parabolic flights. We show that this environment is compatible with free-fall interferometric measurements using up to 4 second interrogation time. We present the next-generation apparatus using degenerate gases for low release-velocity atomic sources in space-borne experiments.
