This document introduces the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS), a new standardized format for organizing and describing neuroimaging data. BIDS aims to address the heterogeneity in how researchers currently organize their brain imaging data, which causes problems in data sharing and combining data from multiple studies. The key principles of BIDS include adopting existing file formats like NIfTI and JSON, capturing the majority of experimental designs while allowing for extensions, and making the format simple to implement through file naming conventions and folder structures. Tools are being developed to help with validation and conversion of data to the BIDS format to promote its adoption.
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