HCP-D Skill (Dataset-Orchestration Layer)
Overview
hcpd-skill is the NeuroClaw orchestration skill for the HCP Development (HCP-D) dataset.
It strictly follows the NeuroClaw hierarchical design principles:
- This skill only describes WHAT needs to be done and which tool skill to delegate to.
- It contains no implementation code or concrete commands.
- All concrete execution is delegated to existing base/tool skills via
claw-shell.
- Companion scripts in
scripts/ provide reference implementations for data reorganization, phenotype extraction, and QC.
Core workflow (never bypassed):
- Identify input HCP-D data and target modalities.
- Generate a numbered execution plan clearly stating WHAT needs to be done and which tool skill will handle each step.
- Present the full plan, estimated runtime, resource requirements, and risks to the user and wait for explicit confirmation ("YES" / "execute" / "proceed").
- On confirmation, delegate every step to the appropriate skill via
claw-shell.
- After execution, save all outputs in a clean directory structure (
hcpd_output/).
Research use only.
Quick Reference
| Task |
What needs to be done |
Delegate to |
Expected output |
| Data download |
Download HCP-D from ConnectomeDB |
claw-shell |
Raw HCP-D files |
| BIDS staging |
Reorganize HCP-D native layout to BIDS |
scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py |
BIDS-compliant dataset |
| sMRI processing |
Brain extraction, tissue segmentation, cortical reconstruction |
smri-skill |
smri_output/ derivatives |
| fMRI processing |
Preprocessing, denoising, connectivity, task GLM |
fmri-skill |
fmri_output/ derivatives |
| dMRI processing |
Eddy correction, tensor metrics, tractography |
dwi-skill |
dwi_output/ metrics |
| Phenotype extraction |
Cognitive, behavioral, developmental data |
scripts/extract_hcpd_phenotype.py |
Merged phenotype CSV |
| QC summary |
Per-subject quality control |
scripts/hcpd_qc_summary.py |
QC summary + exclusion list |
Download Stage (Mandatory First Step)
Source
HCP-D data is distributed through ConnectomeDB:
Dataset Characteristics
- Cohort: ~600+ children and adolescents ages 5-21 years
- Modalities: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI
- Focus: Brain development, maturation of neural circuits, cognitive and emotional development
- Unique feature: Covers the developmental period from childhood to early adulthood
Download Inputs to Confirm in Plan
- ConnectomeDB credentials/token
- Target modalities (all, structural, functional, diffusion)
- Subject list scope (full or custom subset)
- Destination directory with sufficient disk space
HCP-D Task Paradigms
| Task |
Description |
Duration |
| MOTOR |
Finger tapping, toe movement, tongue movement |
~3 min |
| EMOTION |
Faces and shapes matching |
~2 min |
| GAMBLING |
Card guessing with reward/loss |
~3 min |
| LANGUAGE |
Story comprehension and math |
~4 min |
| RELATIONAL |
Relational reasoning matching |
~3 min |
| SOCIAL |
Social cognition (mentalizing) movie clips |
~3 min |
| WM |
Working memory (faces, places, tools, body parts) |
~5 min |
| REST |
Resting-state (eyes open) |
~15 min × 4 runs |
BIDS Preparation
Script: scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py
Converts HCP-D native directory structure to BIDS-compliant layout.
python skills/hcpd-skill/scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py \
--input /path/to/HCPD/raw \
--output /path/to/HCPD/bids \
--participants /path/to/subject_list.txt
Features:
- Subject ID normalization: HCP format to BIDS
sub- labels
- Age-band session handling if applicable
- Modality routing: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI
- Sidecar JSON generation from HCP metadata
dataset_description.json and participants.tsv generation
- Dry-run mode:
--dry-run to preview without copying
Core Workflow (Never Bypassed)
- Identify user target: full HCP-D processing, 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_hcpd.py.
- Delegate to
smri-skill for structural MRI processing.
- Delegate to
fmri-skill for functional MRI processing.
- Delegate to
dwi-skill for diffusion MRI processing.
- If phenotype extraction is requested, run
scripts/extract_hcpd_phenotype.py.
- If QC summary is requested, run
scripts/hcpd_qc_summary.py.
- Save outputs into
hcpd_output/.
Modality Processing Delegation
| Modality |
Delegated skill |
Typical tasks |
Main outputs |
| sMRI (T1w/T2w) |
smri-skill |
brain extraction, tissue segmentation, cortical reconstruction, ROI morphometry |
smri_output/ derivatives |
| fMRI (rs-fMRI/task-fMRI) |
fmri-skill |
preprocessing, denoising, ROI time series, connectivity, task GLM |
fmri_output/ derivatives |
| dMRI (DWI) |
dwi-skill |
eddy correction, tensor metrics, tractography, connectome |
dwi_output/ metrics |
Standard Output Layout
hcpd_output/
├── raw/ # Downloaded original HCP-D files
├── bids/ # BIDS-staged data
├── smri/ # Structural MRI derivatives
├── fmri/ # Functional MRI derivatives
├── dwi/ # Diffusion MRI derivatives
├── phenotype/ # Merged phenotype tables
├── qc/ # QC summaries and exclusion lists
└── logs/ # Download + orchestration logs
Benchmark Adapter Guidance
For benchmark-style prompts, do not force the full orchestration when the task only asks for local HCP-D data staging.
- If the task starts from raw HCP-D data already present on disk and only asks for BIDS-style staging:
- Skip the mandatory download stage
- Default to the narrow path
local raw HCP-D 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-planner before running.
Important Notes and Limitations
- HCP-D covers ages 5-21 years; pediatric processing may require age-specific templates and atlases.
- Head motion is typically higher in pediatric populations; QC thresholds may need adjustment.
- HCP-D complements HCP-YA (22-35) and HCP-A (36-100) to cover the full lifespan.
- For HCP-native preprocessing, optionally delegate to
hcppipeline-tool.
hcpd-skill is orchestration-only; detailed preprocessing logic remains in modality skills.
When to Call This Skill
- User asks for end-to-end HCP Development workflow.
- User asks to download HCP-D and run sMRI/fMRI/DTI processing.
- User needs BIDS staging for HCP-D data.
- User asks to extract HCP-D phenotype data (cognitive, behavioral, developmental).
Complementary / Related Skills
smri-skill → structural MRI preprocessing
fmri-skill → functional MRI preprocessing and analysis
dwi-skill → diffusion MRI preprocessing and analysis
hcppipeline-tool → HCP-native minimal preprocessing pipelines
bids-organizer → BIDS validation and organization
brain-visualization → visualization of derivatives
dependency-planner → dependency resolution
conda-env-manager → environment management
claw-shell → command execution
Reference
Created At: 2026-05-06 13:02 HKT
Last Updated At: 2026-05-06 13:02 HKT
Author: chengwang96
1---2name: hcpd-skill3description: Use this skill whenever the user wants an end-to-end workflow for the HCP Development (HCP-D) dataset, including dataset download, BIDS organization, and multimodal processing of sMRI, fMRI, and dMRI. Triggers include: 'HCP Development', 'HCP-D', 'process HCP Development data', 'HCP Development sMRI fMRI', or any request to run the HCP-D multimodal pipeline.4license: MIT License (NeuroClaw custom skill - freely modifiable within t5---6# HCP-D Skill (Dataset-Orchestration Layer)
7
8## Overview
9
10`hcpd-skill` is the NeuroClaw orchestration skill for the **HCP Development (HCP-D)** dataset.
11
12It strictly follows the NeuroClaw hierarchical design principles:
13- This skill **only describes WHAT needs to be done** and **which tool skill to delegate to**.
14- It contains **no implementation code or concrete commands**.
15- All concrete execution is delegated to existing base/tool skills via `claw-shell`.
16- Companion scripts in `scripts/` provide reference implementations for data reorganization, phenotype extraction, and QC.
17
18**Core workflow (never bypassed):**
191. Identify input HCP-D data and target modalities.
202. Generate a **numbered execution plan** clearly stating WHAT needs to be done and which tool skill will handle each step.
213. Present the full plan, estimated runtime, resource requirements, and risks to the user and wait for explicit confirmation ("YES" / "execute" / "proceed").
224. On confirmation, delegate every step to the appropriate skill via `claw-shell`.
235. After execution, save all outputs in a clean directory structure (`hcpd_output/`).
24
25**Research use only.**
26
27---
28
29## Quick Reference
30
31| Task | What needs to be done | Delegate to | Expected output |
32|---|---|---|---|
33| Data download | Download HCP-D from ConnectomeDB | `claw-shell` | Raw HCP-D files |
34| BIDS staging | Reorganize HCP-D native layout to BIDS | `scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py` | BIDS-compliant dataset |
35| sMRI processing | Brain extraction, tissue segmentation, cortical reconstruction | `smri-skill` | `smri_output/` derivatives |
36| fMRI processing | Preprocessing, denoising, connectivity, task GLM | `fmri-skill` | `fmri_output/` derivatives |
37| dMRI processing | Eddy correction, tensor metrics, tractography | `dwi-skill` | `dwi_output/` metrics |
38| Phenotype extraction | Cognitive, behavioral, developmental data | `scripts/extract_hcpd_phenotype.py` | Merged phenotype CSV |
39| QC summary | Per-subject quality control | `scripts/hcpd_qc_summary.py` | QC summary + exclusion list |
40
41---
42
43## Download Stage (Mandatory First Step)
44
45### Source
46HCP-D data is distributed through **ConnectomeDB**:
47- Website: https://db.humanconnectome.org/
48- Requires ConnectomeDB account and data use agreement
49- Part of the HCP Lifespan initiative
50
51### Dataset Characteristics
52- **Cohort**: ~600+ children and adolescents ages 5-21 years
53- **Modalities**: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI
54- **Focus**: Brain development, maturation of neural circuits, cognitive and emotional development
55- **Unique feature**: Covers the developmental period from childhood to early adulthood
56
57### Download Inputs to Confirm in Plan
58- ConnectomeDB credentials/token
59- Target modalities (all, structural, functional, diffusion)
60- Subject list scope (full or custom subset)
61- Destination directory with sufficient disk space
62
63---
64
65## HCP-D Task Paradigms
66
67| Task | Description | Duration |
68|---|---|---|
69| MOTOR | Finger tapping, toe movement, tongue movement | ~3 min |
70| EMOTION | Faces and shapes matching | ~2 min |
71| GAMBLING | Card guessing with reward/loss | ~3 min |
72| LANGUAGE | Story comprehension and math | ~4 min |
73| RELATIONAL | Relational reasoning matching | ~3 min |
74| SOCIAL | Social cognition (mentalizing) movie clips | ~3 min |
75| WM | Working memory (faces, places, tools, body parts) | ~5 min |
76| REST | Resting-state (eyes open) | ~15 min × 4 runs |
77
78---
79
80## BIDS Preparation
81
82### Script: `scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py`
83
84Converts HCP-D native directory structure to BIDS-compliant layout.
85
86```bash
87python skills/hcpd-skill/scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py \
88 --input /path/to/HCPD/raw \
89 --output /path/to/HCPD/bids \
90 --participants /path/to/subject_list.txt
91```
92
93Features:
94- Subject ID normalization: HCP format to BIDS `sub-` labels
95- Age-band session handling if applicable
96- Modality routing: T1w, T2w, dMRI, rs-fMRI, task-fMRI
97- Sidecar JSON generation from HCP metadata
98- `dataset_description.json` and `participants.tsv` generation
99- Dry-run mode: `--dry-run` to preview without copying
100
101---
102
103## Core Workflow (Never Bypassed)
104
1051. Identify user target: full HCP-D processing, imaging subset, phenotype extraction, or BIDS staging only.
1062. Generate a numbered plan with tools, outputs, runtime, storage, and risks.
1073. Wait for explicit confirmation (`YES` / `execute` / `proceed`).
1084. On confirmation, run download stage first (if needed).
1095. After download success, run BIDS preparation using `scripts/reorganize_hcpd.py`.
1106. Delegate to `smri-skill` for structural MRI processing.
1117. Delegate to `fmri-skill` for functional MRI processing.
1128. Delegate to `dwi-skill` for diffusion MRI processing.
1139. If phenotype extraction is requested, run `scripts/extract_hcpd_phenotype.py`.
11410. If QC summary is requested, run `scripts/hcpd_qc_summary.py`.
11511. Save outputs into `hcpd_output/`.
116
117---
118
119## Modality Processing Delegation
120
121| Modality | Delegated skill | Typical tasks | Main outputs |
122|---|---|---|---|
123| sMRI (T1w/T2w) | `smri-skill` | brain extraction, tissue segmentation, cortical reconstruction, ROI morphometry | `smri_output/` derivatives |
124| fMRI (rs-fMRI/task-fMRI) | `fmri-skill` | preprocessing, denoising, ROI time series, connectivity, task GLM | `fmri_output/` derivatives |
125| dMRI (DWI) | `dwi-skill` | eddy correction, tensor metrics, tractography, connectome | `dwi_output/` metrics |
126
127---
128
129## Standard Output Layout
130
131```
132hcpd_output/
133├── raw/ # Downloaded original HCP-D files
134├── bids/ # BIDS-staged data
135├── smri/ # Structural MRI derivatives
136├── fmri/ # Functional MRI derivatives
137├── dwi/ # Diffusion MRI derivatives
138├── phenotype/ # Merged phenotype tables
139├── qc/ # QC summaries and exclusion lists
140└── logs/ # Download + orchestration logs
141```
142
143---
144
145## Benchmark Adapter Guidance
146
147For benchmark-style prompts, do not force the full orchestration when the task only asks for local HCP-D data staging.
148
149- If the task starts from raw HCP-D data already present on disk and only asks for BIDS-style staging:
150 - Skip the mandatory download stage
151 - Default to the narrow path `local raw HCP-D discovery -> BIDS-style staging -> minimal metadata -> validation/report`
152- In benchmark mode, do not require explicit confirmation before presenting the direct staging solution.
153
154---
155
156## Safety and Execution Policy
157- No execution before explicit plan confirmation.
158- All execution must be routed via `claw-shell`.
159- Missing dependencies must be resolved by `dependency-planner` before running.
160
161---
162
163## Important Notes and Limitations
164- HCP-D covers ages 5-21 years; pediatric processing may require age-specific templates and atlases.
165- Head motion is typically higher in pediatric populations; QC thresholds may need adjustment.
166- HCP-D complements HCP-YA (22-35) and HCP-A (36-100) to cover the full lifespan.
167- For HCP-native preprocessing, optionally delegate to `hcppipeline-tool`.
168- `hcpd-skill` is orchestration-only; detailed preprocessing logic remains in modality skills.
169
170---
171
172## When to Call This Skill
173- User asks for end-to-end HCP Development workflow.
174- User asks to download HCP-D and run sMRI/fMRI/DTI processing.
175- User needs BIDS staging for HCP-D data.
176- User asks to extract HCP-D phenotype data (cognitive, behavioral, developmental).
177
178---
179
180## Complementary / Related Skills
181- `smri-skill` → structural MRI preprocessing
182- `fmri-skill` → functional MRI preprocessing and analysis
183- `dwi-skill` → diffusion MRI preprocessing and analysis
184- `hcppipeline-tool` → HCP-native minimal preprocessing pipelines
185- `bids-organizer` → BIDS validation and organization
186- `brain-visualization` → visualization of derivatives
187- `dependency-planner` → dependency resolution
188- `conda-env-manager` → environment management
189- `claw-shell` → command execution
190
191---
192
193## Reference
194- HCP Development: https://www.humanconnectome.org/study/hcp-lifespan-development
195- ConnectomeDB: https://db.humanconnectome.org/
196- Somerville et al. (2018): The Lifespan Human Connectome Project in Development
197
198Created At: 2026-05-06 13:02 HKT
199Last Updated At: 2026-05-06 13:02 HKT
200Author: chengwang96