Towards a statistical test for functional connectivity dynamics

Abstract

Sliding-window correlation is an emerging method for mapping time-resolved, resting-state functional connectivity. To avoid mapping spurious connectivity fluctuations (false positives), Leonardi and Van De Ville recently recommended choosing a window length exceeding the longest wavelength composing the BOLD signal, usually assumed to be ~. 100. s. Here, we provide further statistical support for this rule of thumb. However, we demonstrate that non-stationary fluctuations in functional connectivity can in theory be detected with much shorter window lengths (e.g. 40. s), while maintaining nominal control of false positives. We find that statistical power is near-maximal for window lengths cho..