TY - JOUR

T1 - Bayesian sequential experimental design for binary response data with application to electromyographic experiments

AU - Azadi, Nammam Ali

AU - Fearnhead, Paul

AU - Ridall, Gareth

AU - Blok, Joleen H.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - We develop a sequential Monte Carlo approach for Bayesian analysis of the experimental design for binary response data. Our work is motivated by surface electromyographic (SEMG) experiments, which can be used to provide information about the functionality of subjects' motor units. These experiments involve a series of stimuli being applied to a motor unit, with whether or not the motor unit res for each stimulus being recorded. The aim is to learn about how the probability of ring depends on the applied stimulus (the so-called stimulus response curve); One such excitability parameter is an estimate of the stimulus level for which the motor unit has a 50% chance of ring. Within such an experiment we are able to choose the next stimulus level based on the past observations. We show how sequential Monte Carlo can be used to analyse such data in an online manner. We then use the current estimate of the posterior distribution in order to choose the next stimulus level. The aim is to select a stimulus level that mimimises the expected loss. We will apply this loss function to the estimates of target quantiles from the stimulus-response curve. Through simulation we show that this approach is more ecient than existing sequential design methods for choosing the stimulus values. If applied in practice, it could more than halve the length of SEMG experiments.

AB - We develop a sequential Monte Carlo approach for Bayesian analysis of the experimental design for binary response data. Our work is motivated by surface electromyographic (SEMG) experiments, which can be used to provide information about the functionality of subjects' motor units. These experiments involve a series of stimuli being applied to a motor unit, with whether or not the motor unit res for each stimulus being recorded. The aim is to learn about how the probability of ring depends on the applied stimulus (the so-called stimulus response curve); One such excitability parameter is an estimate of the stimulus level for which the motor unit has a 50% chance of ring. Within such an experiment we are able to choose the next stimulus level based on the past observations. We show how sequential Monte Carlo can be used to analyse such data in an online manner. We then use the current estimate of the posterior distribution in order to choose the next stimulus level. The aim is to select a stimulus level that mimimises the expected loss. We will apply this loss function to the estimates of target quantiles from the stimulus-response curve. Through simulation we show that this approach is more ecient than existing sequential design methods for choosing the stimulus values. If applied in practice, it could more than halve the length of SEMG experiments.

KW - Bayesian design

KW - sequential design

KW - motor unit

KW - particle ltering,

KW - generalized linear model

KW - binary response

U2 - DOI:10.1214/13-BA855

DO - DOI:10.1214/13-BA855

M3 - Journal article

JO - Bayesian Analysis

JF - Bayesian Analysis

SN - 1931-6690

ER -