The Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) is a standard for organizing, annotating, and describing data collected during

neuroimaging Neuroimaging is the use of quantitative (computational) techniques to study the neuroanatomy, structure and function of the central nervous system, developed as an objective way of scientifically studying the healthy human brain in a non-invasive ...

experiments. It is based on a formalized file and directory structure and metadata files (based on

JSON JSON (JavaScript Object Notation, pronounced or ) is an open standard file format and electronic data interchange, data interchange format that uses Human-readable medium and data, human-readable text to store and transmit data objects consi ...

and TSV) with

controlled vocabulary A controlled vocabulary provides a way to organize knowledge for subsequent retrieval. Controlled vocabularies are used in subject indexing schemes, subject headings, thesauri, taxonomies and other knowledge organization systems. Controlled v ...

. This standard has been adopted by a multitude of labs around the world as well as databases such as

OpenNeuro ''OpenNeuro'' (formerly known as OpenfMRI) is an open-science neuroinformatics database storing datasets from human brain imaging research studies. The database is available online. Neuroimaging researchers, having performed an neuroimaging stu ...

, SchizConnect, Developing Human Connectome Project, and FCP-INDI, and is seeing uptake in an increasing number of studies. While originally specified for

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to generate pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes inside the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and rad ...

data, BIDS has been extended to several other imaging modalities such as

MEG Meg is a feminine given name, often a short form of Margaret, Megan, Megumi (Japanese), etc. It may refer to: People *Meg (singer) (born 1980), Japanese singer *Meg Baird, American musician *Meg Bateman, Scottish writer * Meg Bellamy, British ac ...

EEG Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method to record an electrogram of the spontaneous electrical activity of the brain. The bio signals detected by EEG have been shown to represent the postsynaptic potentials of pyramidal neurons in the neoc ...

, and intracranial EEG (see also BIDS Extension Proposals).

History

The project is a community-driven effort. BIDS, originally OBIDS (Open Brain Imaging Data Structure), was initiated during an

INCF The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating FacilityINCF is an international non-profit organization with the mission to develop, evaluate, and endorse standards and best practices that embrace the principles of Open, FAIR, and Citable neuro ...

sponsored data sharing working group meeting (January 2015) at

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

. It was subsequently spearheaded and maintained by

Chris Gorgolewski Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, and Christine. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name *Chris Abani (born 1966), Nigerian author ...

. Since October 2019, the project is headed by
Steering Group
ref> and maintained by a separate team of maintainers, th

according to

that was approved of by the BIDS community in a vote. BIDS has advanced under the direction and effort of contributors, the community of researchers that appreciate the value of standardizing neuroimaging data to facilitate sharing and analysis.

BIDS Extension Proposals

BIDS can be extended in a backwards compatible way and is evolving over time. This is accomplished through BIDS Extension Proposals (BEPs), which are community-driven processes followin

A full list of finalized BEPs and BEPs in progress can be found on th

References

External links

Official BIDS website

HTML version of the BIDS specification

Source of the BIDS specification on GitHub
Data management Magnetic resonance imaging Electrophysiology Neuroimaging {{neuro-stub