gamma distribution

a pattern of data that can be depicted on vertical and horizontal axes when information is known about two parameters, scale and shape, both of which are values equal to zero or higher. For example, a standard gamma distribution is one in which the shape and location parameters of the continuous probability function are 0 and 1, respectively. Gamma distributions are common in Bayesian statistics and are often used to describe waiting times and reaction times.

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Psychology term of the day

September 1st 2024

transfer function model

1. a model used in functional magnetic resonance imaging to describe the shape of responses. A neuron receives a number of inputs, each of which comes via a connection that has a strength or weight; these weights correspond to the synaptic efficacy of the neuron. Each neuron also has a single threshold value. Activation of the neuron is determined by the weighted sum of the inputs minus the threshold. The activation signal is passed through a transfer function to produce the output of the neuron.

2. in time-series analysis, a type of model used to forecast a time series that is influenced by present and past values of other time series.