THE USE OF CONTINUOUS REGULARIZATION IN THE AUTOMATED-ANALYSIS OF MRSTIME-DOMAIN DATA

In this paper, it is shown how the advantages of continuous regulariza tion (CR) can be exploited to achieve an improved, fully automated LPS VD analysis of MRS time-domain data. The main advantage of CR is its a bility to determine the number of spectral components even at low sign al-to-noise ratios, which suggested its use for in vivo spectroscopy, Estimation of the spectral parameters is possible. Two alternatives of automated data-analysis schemes are thoroughly investigated by means of Monte Carlo studies. The results suggest the combination of CR for model-order estimation with other methods for more-accurate parameter estimation, Several possible combinations, including those with an imp roved enhancement procedure and a total-least-squares method for quant itation, are discussed, Recommendations are given for spectral analysi s, and a new data-analysis protocol which performs significantly bette r than previously used protocols of the same type is proposed, (C) 199 7 Academic Press.