Standards for Metadata

Neuroscience data, particularly those in neuroinformatics related areas such as neuroimaging and electrophysiology, are associated with a rich set of descriptive information often called metadata. For data archive, storage, sharing and re-use, metadata are of equal importance to primary data, as they define the methods and conditions of data acquisition (such as device characteristics, study/experiment protocol and parameters, behavioral paradigms, and subject/patient information), and statistical procedures. A further challenge for metadata is the rapidly evolving nature of investigative methods and scientific applications.

The overall scope of this new program is to develop generic standards and tools to facilitate the recording, sharing, and reporting of metadata. It is expected that these efforts will greatly improve upon current practices for archiving and sharing neuroscience data. Two Task Forces will initially be created to focus on:

• Neuroimaging data and databases of neurological/psychiatric disorders and cognitive function
• Electrophysiological and EEG/MEG data and databases

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Oversight Committee Chair

Colin Ingram