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Multi-dimensional functional data arises in numerous modern scientific experimental and observational studies. In this article, we focus on longitudinal functional data, a structured form of multidimensional functional data. Operating within a longitudinal functional framework we aim to capture low dimensional interpretable features. We propose a computationally efficient nonparametric Bayesian method to simultaneously smooth observed data, estimate conditional functional means and functional covariance surfaces. Statistical inference is based on Monte Carlo samples from the posterior measure through adaptive blocked Gibbs sampling. Several operative characteristics associated with the proposed modeling framework are assessed comparatively in a simulated environment. We illustrate the application of our work in two case studies. The first case study involves age-specific fertility collected over time for various countries. The second case study is an implicit learning experiment in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Modelling response surfaces using tensor cubic smoothing splines is presented for three designed experiments. The aim is to show how the analyses can be carried out using the asreml software in the R environment, and details of the analyses including the code to do so are presented in a tutorial style. The experiments were all run over time and involve an explanatory quantitative treatment variable; one experiment is a field trial which has a spatial component and involves an additional treatment. Thus, in addition to the response surface for the time by explanatory variable, modelling of temporal and, for the third experiment, of temporal and spatial effects at the residual level is required. A linear mixed model is used for analysis, and a mixed model representation of the tensor cubic smoothing spline is described and seamlessly incorporated in the full linear mixed model. The analyses show the flexibility and capacity of asreml for complex modelling.Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we propose the continuously dynamic additive model (CDAM), in which both the predictor and response are random functions. In continuously dynamic additive modeling, we assume that additivity occurs in the time domain rather than in spectral domain, and characterize this model through a time-dependent smooth surface that reflects the underlying nonlinear dynamic relationships between functional predictor and functional response. We use tensor product basis expansion with varying coefficient functions to approximate the time-varying smooth surface, and then estimate varying-coefficient functions by combining functional principal components analysis with penalized least squares method. In a theoretical investigation, we show that the predictions obtained from the fitted CDAM are asymptotically consistent under some mild conditions. Finally, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model and method through extensive simulation studies as well as a real data example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce continuously additive models, which can be viewed as extensions of additive regression models with vector predictors to the case of infinite-dimensional predictors. This approach produces a class of flexible functional nonlinear regression models, where random predictor curves are coupled with scalar responses. In continuously additive modelling, integrals taken over a smooth surface along graphs of predictor functions relate the predictors to the responses in a nonlinear fashion. We use tensor product basis expansions to fit the smooth regression surface that characterizes the model. In a theoretical investigation, we show that the predictions obtained from fitting continuously additive models are consistent and asymptotically normal. We also consider extensions to generalized responses. The proposed class of models outperforms existing functional regression models in simulations and real-data examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]