The Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Center (fMRIDC): the challenges and rewards of large-scale databasing of neuroimaging studies

The Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Center (fMRIDC) (http://www. fmridc.org) was established in the Autumn of 1999 with the objective of cre ating a mechanism by which members of the neuroscientific community may mor e easily share functional neuroimaging data. Examples in other sciences off er proof of the usefulness and benefit that sharing data provides through e ncouraging growth and development in those fields. By building a publicly a ccessible repository of raw data from peer-reviewed studies, the Data Cente r hopes to create a similarly successful environment for the neurosciences. In this article, we discuss the continuum of data-sharing efforts and provi de an overview of the scientific and practical difficulties inherent in man aging various fMLRI data-sharing approaches. Next, we detail the organizati on, design and foundation of the fMRIDC, ranging from its current capabilit ies to the issues involved in the submitting and requesting of data. We dis cuss how a publicly accessible database enables other fields to develop rel evant tools that can aid in the growth of understanding of cognitive proces ses. Information retrieval and meta-analytic techniques can be used to sear ch, sort and categorize study information with a view towards subjecting st udy data to secondary 'meta-' and 'mega-analyses'. In addition, we detail t he technical and policy challenges that have had to be addressed in the for mation of the Data Center. Among others, these include: human subject confi dentiality issues; ensuring investigator's rights; heterogeneous data descr iption and organization; development of search tools; and data transfer iss ues. We conclude with comments concerning the future of the fMRIDC effort, its role in promoting the sharing of neuroscientific data, and how this may alter the manner in which studies are published.