Dynamic pattern decoding of source-reconstructed MEG or EEG data: Perspective of multivariate pattern analysis and signal leakage

Recently, an increasing number of studies have employed multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) rather than univariate analysis for the dynamic pattern decoding of event-related responses recorded with a MEG/EEG sensor. The use of the MVPA approach for source-reconstructed MEG/EEG data is uncommon. For these data, we need to consider the source orientation information and the signal leakage among brain regions. In the present study, we evaluate the perspective of the MVPA approach in the context of source orientation information and signal leakage in source-reconstructed MEG data. We perform face vs. tool object category decoding (FvsT-OCD) of event-related responses from single or multiple voxels from a brain region using a univariate analysis approach and/or the MVPA approach. We also propose and perform symmetric signal leakage correction of source-reconstructed data using an independent component analysis-based approach. FvsT-OCD using single voxel information shows higher sensitivity for the MVPA approach than univariate analysis, as the MVPA approach efficiently utilizes information on all three dipole orientations and is less affected by inter-subject variability. The MVPA approach shows higher sensitivity for FvsT-OCD when considering information from multiple voxels than for a single voxel in a brain region. This finding suggests that the MVPA approach captures the latent multivoxel distributed pattern. However, the results may be partly or entirely attributable to signal leakage between brain regions, as the sensitivity is substantially reduced after signal leakage correction. A consideration of signal leakage is therefore essential during the evaluation of MVPA outcomes.