Colloquium: "Intrinsic Riemannian Functional Data Analysis"

Abstract: Data of random paths on a Riemannian manifold is often encountered in real-world applications. Examples include trajectories of bird migration, the dynamics of brain functional connectivity, etc. To analyze such data, a framework of intrinsic Riemannian functional data analysis is developed, which provides a rigorous theoretical foundation for statistical analysis of random paths on a Riemannian manifold. The cornerstone of the framework is the Hilbert space of vector fields along a curve on the manifold, based on which principal component analysis and Karhunen-Loève expansion for Riemannian random paths are then established. The framework also features a proposal for proper comparison of vector fields along different curves, which paves the way for intrinsic asymptotic analysis of estimation procedures for Riemannian functional data analysis. Built on intrinsic geometric concepts such as vector field, Levi-Civita connection and parallel transport on Riemannian manifolds, the proposed framework embraces full generality of applications and proper handle of intrinsic geometric concepts. Based on the framework, functional linear regression models for Riemannian random paths are investigated, including estimation methods, asymptotic properties and an application to the study of brain functional connectivity.

Host: Nan Lin

Tea @ 3:45pm in room 200