Brain Imaging Data Structure

Last updated
Brain Imaging Data Structure
BIDS Logo.png
AbbreviationBIDS
StatusPublished
Year started2015
Latest version1.10.0 [1]
2024-09-12
Related standards JSON, TSV, NIfTI
Domain Neuroimaging
License CC-BY 4.0
Website bids.neuroimaging.io

The Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) is a standard for organizing, annotating, and describing data collected during neuroimaging experiments. It is based on a formalized file and directory structure and metadata files (based on JSON and TSV) with controlled vocabulary. [2] This standard has been adopted by a multitude of labs around the world as well as databases such as OpenNeuro, SchizConnect, Developing Human Connectome Project, and FCP-INDI, and is seeing uptake in an increasing number of studies. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

While originally specified for MRI data, BIDS has been extended to several other imaging modalities such as MEG, [6] EEG, [7] and intracranial EEG [8] (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 sponsored data sharing working group meeting (January 2015) at Stanford University. It was subsequently spearheaded and maintained by Chris Gorgolewski. Since October 2019, the project is headed by a Steering Group [9] and maintained by a separate team of maintainers, the Maintainers Group, according to a governance document 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 following agreed-upon guidelines. A full list of finalized BEPs and BEPs in progress can be found on the BIDS website

References

  1. Oliver-Taylor, Aaron; Li, Adam; Thomas, Adam; et al. (12 September 2024). "The Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) Specification". Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.10175845 . Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  2. Gorgolewski, Krzysztof J.; Auer, Tibor; Calhoun, Vince D.; Craddock, R. Cameron; Das, Samir; Duff, Eugene P.; Flandin, Guillaume; Ghosh, Satrajit S.; Glatard, Tristan; Halchenko, Yaroslav O.; Handwerker, Daniel A.; Hanke, Michael; Keator, David; Li, Xiangrui; Michael, Zachary; Maumet, Camille; Nichols, B. Nolan; Nichols, Thomas E.; Pellman, John; Poline, Jean-Baptiste; Rokem, Ariel; Schaefer, Gunnar; Sochat, Vanessa; Triplett, William; Turner, Jessica A.; Varoquaux, Gaël; Poldrack, Russell A.; et al. (2016). "The brain imaging data structure, a format for organizing and describing outputs of neuroimaging experiments". Scientific Data . 3: 160044. Bibcode:2016NatSD...360044G. doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.44. PMC   4978148 . PMID   27326542.
  3. Poldrack, Russell A.; Congdon, Eliza; Triplett, William; Gorgolewski, Krzysztof J.; Karlsgodt, Katherine H.; Mumford, Jeanette A.; Sabb, Fred W.; Freimer, Nelson B.; London, Edythe D.; Cannon, Tyrone D.; Bilder, Robert M. (2016). "A phenome-wide examination of neural and cognitive function". Scientific Data . 3: 160110. Bibcode:2016NatSD...360110P. doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.110. PMC   5139672 . PMID   27922632. S2CID   33368149.
  4. Bigdely-Shamlo, Nima; Makeig, Scott; Robbins, Kay A. (2016). "Preparing Laboratory and Real-World EEG Data for Large-Scale Analysis: A Containerized Approach". Frontiers in Neuroinformatics . 7: 10. doi: 10.3389/fninf.2016.00007 . PMC   4782059 . PMID   27014048.
  5. Nichols, Thomas E.; Das, Samir; Eickhoff, Simon B; Evans, Alan C.; Glatard, Tristan; Hanke, Michael; Kriegeskorte, Nikolaus; Milham, Michael P.; Poldrack, Russell A.; Poline, Jean-Baptiste; Proal, Erika; Thirion, Bertrand; Van Essen, David C; White, Tonya; Yeo, B. T. Thomas (2017). "Best practices in data analysis and sharing in neuroimaging using MRI". Nature Neuroscience . 20 (3): 299–303. doi:10.1038/nn.4500. PMC   5685169 . PMID   28230846.
  6. Niso, Guiomar; Gorgolewski, Krzysztof J.; Bock, Elizabeth; Brooks, Teon L.; Flandin, Guillaume; Gramfort, Alexandre; Henson, Richard N.; Jas, Mainak; Litvak, Vladimir; T. Moreau, Jeremy; Oostenveld, Robert; Schoffelen, Jan-Mathijs; Tadel, Francois; Wexler, Joseph; Baillet, Sylvain (19 June 2018). "MEG-BIDS, the brain imaging data structure extended to magnetoencephalography". Scientific Data . 5: 180110. Bibcode:2018NatSD...580110N. doi:10.1038/sdata.2018.110. PMC   6007085 . PMID   29917016.
  7. Pernet, Cyril R.; Appelhoff, Stefan; Gorgolewski, Krzysztof J.; Flandin, Guillaume; Phillips, Christophe; Delorme, Arnaud; Oostenveld, Robert (December 2019). "EEG-BIDS, an extension to the brain imaging data structure for electroencephalography". Scientific Data . 6 (1): 103. Bibcode:2019NatSD...6..103P. doi:10.1038/s41597-019-0104-8. ISSN   2052-4463. PMC   6592877 . PMID   31239435.
  8. Holdgraf, Christopher; Appelhoff, Stefan; Bickel, Stephan; Bouchard, Kristofer; D’Ambrosio, Sasha; David, Olivier; Devinsky, Orrin; Dichter, Benjamin; Flinker, Adeen; Foster, Brett L.; Gorgolewski, Krzysztof J.; Groen, Iris; Groppe, David; Gunduz, Aysegul; Hamilton, Liberty; Honey, Christopher J.; Jas, Mainak; Knight, Robert; Lachaux, Jean-Philippe; Lau, Jonathan C.; Lee-Messer, Christopher; Lundstrom, Brian N.; Miller, Kai J.; Ojemann, Jeffrey G.; Oostenveld, Robert; Petridou, Natalia; Piantoni, Gio; Pigorini, Andrea; Pouratian, Nader; Ramsey, Nick F.; Stolk, Arjen; Swann, Nicole C.; Tadel, François; Voytek, Bradley; Wandell, Brian A.; Winawer, Jonathan; Whitaker, Kirstie; Zehl, Lyuba; Hermes, Dora (December 2019). "iEEG-BIDS, extending the Brain Imaging Data Structure specification to human intracranial electrophysiology". Scientific Data . 6 (1): 102. Bibcode:2019NatSD...6..102H. doi: 10.1038/s41597-019-0105-7 . ISSN   2052-4463. PMC   6592874 . PMID   31239438.
  9. "Meet the BIDS Steering Group". 31 December 2019.