Generating Hypotheses of Dynamic Causal Graphs in Neuroscience: Leveraging Generative Factor Models of Observed Time Series

Zachary C. Brown, David Carlson

TL;DR: We present a novel algorithm for generating hypotheses of causal relationships in systems featuring dynamic causal interactions (esp. the brain), along with state-of-the-art results over multiple datasets and case studies on real brain recordings.

Abstract: The field of hypothesis generation promises to reduce costs in neuroscience by narrowing the range of interventional studies needed to study various phenomena. Existing machine learning methods can generate scientific hypotheses from complex datasets, but many approaches assume causal relationships are static over time, limiting their applicability to systems with dynamic, state-dependent behavior, such as the brain. While some techniques attempt dynamic causal discovery through factor models, they often restrict relationships to linear patterns or impose other simplifying assumptions. We propose a novel method that models dynamic graphs as a conditionally weighted superposition of static graphs, where each static graph can capture nonlinear relationships. This approach enables the detection of complex, time-varying interactions between variables beyond linear limitations. Our method improves f1-scores of predicted dynamic causal patterns by roughly 22-28% on average over baselines in some of our experiments, with some improvements reaching well over 60%. A case study on real brain data demonstrates our method's ability to uncover relationships linked to specific behavioral states, offering valuable insights into neural dynamics.

Lay Summary: In order to understand brain activity, neuroscientists currently have to explore an enormous amount of possible root causes, which can be costly and time consuming. We created an AI-based way to predict which possible root causes will actually be important for understanding brain behavior. This should help neuroscientists identify the causes of behaviors in the brain more quickly and at reduced cost.

Application-Driven Machine Learning: This submission is on Application-Driven Machine Learning.

Link To Code: https://github.com/carlson-lab/redcliff-s-hypothesizing-dynamic-causal-graphs

Primary Area: Applications->Neuroscience, Cognitive Science

Keywords: neuroscience, hypothesis generation, generative models, causal discovery

Submission Number: 12550