activation likelihood estimation

Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) is a statistical method used in neuroscience to identify brain areas that are consistently active during certain tasks or conditions. It looks at brain imaging data, such as fMRI scans, and examines how often specific brain regions are activated together across different studies. By pooling data, ALE creates maps of brain activity that highlight which areas are most likely to be involved in particular cognitive processes. This helps researchers understand brain function and how different regions interact during thought, emotion, and behavior.