name: hbn-skill description: "Use this skill whenever the user wants an end-to-end workflow for the Healthy Brain Network (HBN) dataset, including download, BIDS organization, and multimodal processing of sMRI, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI, and EEG data. Triggers include: 'HBN', 'Healthy Brain Network', 'process HBN', 'HBN fMRI', 'HBN EEG', or any request to run the HBN multimodal pipeline. This is the NeuroClaw dataset-orchestration layer for HBN." license: MIT License (NeuroClaw custom skill - freely modifiable within the project) layer: subagent skill_type: dataset dependencies: - smri-skill - fmri-skill - dwi-skill - eeg-skill - bids-organizer - claw-shell
HBN Skill (Dataset-Orchestration Layer)
Overview
hbn-skill is the NeuroClaw orchestration skill for the Healthy Brain Network (HBN) dataset.
It coordinates a fixed multi-phase workflow:
- Download HBN data from the FCP/INDI repository.
- Prepare and validate BIDS-style data organization for downstream processing.
- Delegate modality pipelines to
smri-skill,fmri-skill,dwi-skill, andeeg-skill.
It also provides phenotype extraction and QC integration paths:
- Extract and merge HBN phenotype tables (psychiatric, behavioral, cognitive, lifestyle, genetics, actigraphy).
- Generate per-subject QC summaries with exclusion lists.
This skill follows NeuroClaw hierarchy:
- Defines WHAT to do, not low-level implementation details.
- Does not execute direct shell commands itself.
- Delegates all execution via
claw-shellto base/tool skills.
Research use only.
Download Stage (Mandatory First Step)
Source
HBN data is distributed through the FCP/INDI repository:
Supported HBN Data Packages
- Imaging data: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI (NIfTI format)
- EEG data: resting-state and task EEG recordings
- Phenotype data: CSV/TSV files with psychiatric, behavioral, cognitive, lifestyle, genetics, actigraphy measures
- Sites: Rutgers University Brain Imaging Center (primary), with additional sites planned
Delegation Rules for Download
- Environment/setup checks:
dependency-planner+conda-env-manager - Download tool installation and execution:
claw-shell - Optional raw-data organization to BIDS-style staging:
bids-organizer
Download Inputs to Confirm in Plan
- Target subset (full cohort, specific sites, or age groups)
- Subject list scope (full or custom IDs)
- Destination directory with sufficient disk space
Narrow Path: HBN Raw NIfTI -> BIDS Staging
Use this path when the task only asks to reorganize raw HBN NIfTI files into a BIDS-style dataset and does not require preprocessing, ROI extraction, phenotype merging, or downstream analysis.
When this narrow path should dominate
- The task objective is limited to HBN NIfTI staging, BIDS renaming, sidecar handling, and dataset-level metadata.
- Inputs are already local HBN NIfTI files or HBN-style subject folders.
- The required deliverable is a direct staging script or command sequence, not a plan for fMRIPrep or downstream analysis.
Narrow-path contract
- Do not widen the solution to fMRIPrep, ROI extraction, phenotype merging, or downstream analysis unless the task explicitly requires them.
- Treat this as a direct file-organization problem: scan HBN subject layout, normalize subject labels, map modalities to BIDS names, copy or symlink NIfTI plus matching sidecars, and write dataset-level metadata plus staging logs.
- If the task is benchmark-style, prefer a single direct end-to-end staging script over a confirmation-first orchestration plan.
Expected narrow-path behavior
- Detect HBN-style subject IDs (e.g.,
NDARAA075AMK) and normalize to BIDS labels such assub-NDARAA075AMK. - Detect session information (e.g.,
ses-1,ses-2) from directory structure. - Route modalities:
- T1w ->
anat/*_T1w - T2w ->
anat/*_T2w - dMRI ->
dwi/*_dwi - rs-fMRI/BOLD ->
func/*_task-rest_bold - task-fMRI/BOLD ->
func/*_task-<name>_bold - EEG ->
eeg/*_eeg
- T1w ->
- Preserve or rename matching JSON sidecars when available.
- Emit dataset-level outputs such as
dataset_description.json,participants.tsv,README, and a manifest or skipped-file report.
Core Workflow (Never Bypassed)
- Identify user target: full HBN download, imaging subset, phenotype extraction, or BIDS staging only.
- Generate a numbered plan with tools, outputs, runtime, storage, and risks.
- Wait for explicit confirmation (
YES/execute/proceed). - On confirmation, run download stage first (if needed).
- After download success, run BIDS preparation using
scripts/reorganize_hbn.py. - Delegate to modality skills:
smri-skillfor structural MRI (T1w, T2w)fmri-skillfor functional MRI (rs-fMRI, task-fMRI)dwi-skillfor diffusion MRI (dMRI)eeg-skillfor EEG recordings
- If phenotype extraction is requested, run
scripts/extract_hbn_phenotype.py. - If QC summary is requested, run
scripts/hbn_qc_summary.py. - Save outputs into an HBN-centered structure under
hbn_output/.
Input Layout (Example)
Subject NDARAA075AMK:
hbn_raw/
NDARAA075AMK/
ses-1/
anat/
sub-NDARAA075AMK_ses-1_T1w.nii.gz
func/
sub-NDARAA075AMK_ses-1_task-rest_bold.nii.gz
dwi/
sub-NDARAA075AMK_ses-1_dwi.nii.gz
eeg/
sub-NDARAA075AMK_ses-1_task-rest_eeg.set
ses-2/
...
phenotype/
hbn_phenotype.csv
BIDS Preparation
Script: scripts/reorganize_hbn.py
Converts HBN raw directory structure to BIDS-compliant layout.
python skills/hbn-skill/scripts/reorganize_hbn.py \
--input /path/to/hbn_raw \
--output /path/to/hbn_bids
Features:
- Subject ID normalization to BIDS
sub-NDARXXXXXXXXX - Session detection from directory structure
- Modality routing: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI, EEG
dataset_description.jsonandparticipants.tsvgeneration- Dry-run mode:
--dry-runto preview without copying
Multimodal Processing Delegation
| Modality | Delegated skill | Typical tasks | Main outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| sMRI (T1w, T2w) | smri-skill |
brain extraction, tissue segmentation, cortical reconstruction | smri_output/ |
| fMRI (rs-fMRI, task-fMRI) | fmri-skill |
preprocessing, denoising, ROI time series, connectivity, task GLM | fmri_output/ |
| dMRI | dwi-skill |
eddy correction, tensor metrics, tractography, connectome | dwi_output/ |
| EEG | eeg-skill |
artifact removal, filtering, epoch extraction, spectral analysis | eeg_output/ |
Phenotype Extraction
Script: scripts/extract_hbn_phenotype.py
python skills/hbn-skill/scripts/extract_hbn_phenotype.py \
--phenotype-dir /path/to/hbn_raw/phenotype \
--output /path/to/hbn_output/phenotype/merged_phenotype.csv \
--imaging-ids /path/to/hbn_output/bids/participants.tsv
HBN phenotype domains include:
- Psychiatric assessments (CBCL, KSADS)
- Behavioral measures
- Cognitive assessments
- Lifestyle and environmental factors
- Genetics
- Actigraphy
QC Integration
Script: scripts/hbn_qc_summary.py
python skills/hbn-skill/scripts/hbn_qc_summary.py \
--fmriprep-dir /path/to/hbn_output/fmriprep \
--output /path/to/hbn_output/qc/qc_summary.csv \
--exclude-output /path/to/hbn_output/qc/exclude_list.csv \
--fd-threshold 0.3
Recommended Output Layout
All assets should be organized under ./hbn_output/:
hbn_output/raw/(downloaded original files)hbn_output/bids/(staged BIDS data)hbn_output/smri/(links or copies fromsmri_output/)hbn_output/fmri/(links or copies fromfmri_output/)hbn_output/dwi/(links or copies fromdwi_output/)hbn_output/eeg/(links or copies fromeeg_output/)hbn_output/phenotype/(merged phenotype tables)hbn_output/qc/(QC summaries and exclusion lists)hbn_output/logs/(download + orchestration logs)
Benchmark Adapter Guidance
For benchmark-style prompts, do not force the full download -> staging -> multimodal processing orchestration when the task is only asking for local HBN data staging or organization.
- If the task starts from raw HBN data already present on disk and only asks for BIDS-style staging / organization:
- skip the mandatory download stage
- default to the narrow path
local raw HBN discovery -> BIDS-style staging -> minimal metadata -> validation/report
- In benchmark mode, do not require explicit confirmation before presenting the direct staging solution.
Safety and Execution Policy
- No execution before explicit plan confirmation.
- All execution must be routed via
claw-shell. - Missing dependencies must be resolved by
dependency-plannerbefore running.
Important Notes and Limitations
- HBN is a pediatric/adolescent cohort (ages 5-21); age-appropriate processing parameters may be needed.
- HBN includes EEG data in addition to standard neuroimaging modalities.
- HBN data is released in waves; not all subjects have all modalities.
- HBN subject IDs use NDAR format (e.g.,
NDARAA075AMK). hbn-skillis orchestration-only; detailed preprocessing logic remains in modality skills.
When to Call This Skill
- User asks for end-to-end HBN workflow.
- User asks to download HBN data and then run multimodal processing.
- User needs BIDS staging for raw HBN NIfTI files.
- User asks to extract and merge HBN phenotype tables.
- User needs HBN-specific QC summaries and exclusion lists.
Complementary / Related Skills
smri-skillfmri-skilldwi-skilleeg-skillbids-organizerfmriprep-toolqsiprep-toolfreesurfer-toolmne-eeg-tooldependency-plannerconda-env-managerclaw-shell
Reference
- HBN: https://fcon_1000.projects.nitrc.org/indi/cmi_healthy_brain_network/
- BIDS spec: https://bids.neuroimaging.io/
Created At: 2026-05-06 10:49 HKT Last Updated At: 2026-05-06 10:49 HKT Author: chengwang96