# Source space estimates using a template rather than MRI data

**URL:** <https://mne.discourse.group/t/source-space-estimates-using-a-template-rather-than-mri-data/2915>\
**Category:** Support & Discussions\
**Tags:** source-localization\
**Created:** [April 2, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/source-space-estimates-using-a-template-rather-than-mri-data/2915 "2021-04-02T18:00:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sequoia33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@sequoia33](https://mne.discourse.group/u/sequoia33)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/source-space-estimates-using-a-template-rather-than-mri-data/2915/1 "2021-04-02T18:00:30Z")

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Hello, I am using Windows 10, MNE version 0.22.0, and Python 3.8.5. I am analyzing EEG data, which is currently in raw format (I also have converted it to events, epochs, and evoked). I have a question about creating source space estimates that I have been stuck on for some time. Apologies if I have missed something straightforward or if this was answered in an archived post that I missed.

I believe the correct function for creating source space estimates is mne.setup\_source\_space. However, it requires associated MRI data as a FreeSurfer file. The dataset I am using does not come with MRI images for the subjects so I would like to just use a template to create estimates (though I recognize they will not be as precise). Is there a way to tell the function that I do not have a FreeSurfer file? Or is there another function for this purpose?

Thanks very much for any pointers or advice on this!

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**Author:** ![drammock](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/drammock/32/4_2.png) [@drammock](https://mne.discourse.group/u/drammock)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/source-space-estimates-using-a-template-rather-than-mri-data/2915/2 "2021-04-02T20:21:06Z")

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Hi @sequoia33, there is a tutorial about using a template brain to make source estimates from EEG data.

[https://mne.tools/stable/auto\_tutorials/source-modeling/plot\_eeg\_no\_mri.html](https://mne.tools/stable/auto_tutorials/source-modeling/plot_eeg_no_mri.html)

Can you take a look at that and see if it gets you un-stuck? If not, please post back here and we’ll try to help further!

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**Author:** ![sequoia33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@sequoia33](https://mne.discourse.group/u/sequoia33)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/source-space-estimates-using-a-template-rather-than-mri-data/2915/3 "2021-04-29T21:24:37Z")

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Hi, thanks very much, yes that worked and after that I managed to get everything else to work.

Cheers,  
sequoia33