Autism spectrum disorder detection using projection based learning meta-cognitive RBF network

In this paper, we present an approach for the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans with Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) detected features using Projection Based Learning (PBL) algorithm for a Meta-cognitive Radial Basis Function Network (McRBFN) classifier. McRBFN emulates human-like meta-cognitive learning principles. As each sample is presented to the network, the McRBFN uses the estimated class label, the maximum hinge error and class-wise significance to address the self-regulating principles of what-to-learn, when-to-learn and how-to-learn in a meta-cognitive framework. Initially, McRBFN begins with zero hidden neurons and adds required number of neurons to approximate the decision surface. When a neuron is added, its parameters are initialized based on the sample overlapping conditions. The output weights are updated using a PBL algorithm such that the network finds the minimum point of an energy function defined by the hinge-loss error. Moreover, as samples with similar information are deleted, over-training is avoided. The PBL algorithm helps to reduce the computational effort used in training. For simulation studies, we have used MR images from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) data set. The performance of the PBL-McRBFN classifier is evaluated on complete morphometric features set obtained from the VBM analysis. The performance evaluation study clearly indicates the superior performance of PBL-McRBFN classifier over other classification algorithms.