Table 2 Examples of competency questions addressed by NEAO.

From: Improving data sharing and knowledge transfer via the Neuroelectrophysiology Analysis Ontology (NEAO)

Class

Example of competency question

AnalysisStep

Which steps were used in the analysis?

Did the analysis use [specific method] as a step?

Did the analysis use [category of method] as a step?

Data

What data was input/output to a step in the analysis?

Did the analysis produce [specific data] as input/output from a step?

Did the analysis use [category of data] as input/output from a step?

AnalysisParameter

What are the parameters for the steps in the analysis?

What are the parameters of [specific method] used in the analysis?

What is the [specific parameter] of [specific method] used in the analysis?

What are the parameters of [category of method] used in the analysis?

SoftwareImplementation

What software/code implemented a step in the analysis?

What software/code implements [specific/category of method] used in the analysis?

What is the version of the software/code of a step in the analysis?

SoftwarePackage

What package contains the software/code of a step in the analysis?

What package contains the software/code of [specific/category of method] in the analysis?

What is the package version that contains the software/code of [specific/category of method] in the analysis?

BibliographicReference

What is the bibliographic source of [specific method]?

What are the bibliographic sources of [category of method]?

ElectrophysiologySource

What neural source does data contain?

Did a step use data from [specific source]?

DataRepresentation

How is data input/output of a step in the analysis represented?

Is data input/output of a step represented as [specific representation]?

  1. The classes and properties defined by the ontology are intended to identify the atomic steps used throughout the analyses, together with their data and parameters. Questions may inquire about specific methods, data, or parameters. For example, we can cite the computation of a PSD using the Welch algorithm (specific method), the CV2 interspike variability measure obtained by a corresponding analysis (specific data), and a low-pass cutoff for a filter (specific parameter). The ontology also provides the ability to query about a category of methods, data, or parameters. As examples, we can cite PSD analyses (for which the Welch is one of multiple possible), spike interval statistics (for which the CV2 value is one of multiple possible), and filtering parameters (for which a low-pass cutoff is one possibility). Moreover, the ontology intends to support the description of the software implementing each step in the analysis (associated with a specific or a category of methods), with classes and properties to structure the function, program, and software package information (name and versions). NEAO also aims to aid in inquiring about the literature sources associated with a category or specific methods, and the source and representation of data throughout the analysis.
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