Integrating and interpreting brain maps

2025/07/31 by Justine Y. Hansen, Bratislav Mišić · 1 voice · 14 citations
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications #Cognitive psychology #Cognitive science #Functional Brain Connectivity Studies #Neural dynamics and brain function #Neuroscience #Psychology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.003

published in Trends in Neurosciences 48(8), 594-607 (Elsevier BV)

openalex publication_date 2025/07/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Tangled molecular, cellular, and dynamic undercurrents shape brain organization. An emerging paradigm across neuroscience domains is to comprehensively measure the spatial patterning of multiple biological features, yielding precise brain maps. How can these features be conceptually integrated into a coherent understanding of brain structure and function? Here we review the methodology and practice of interpreting relationships between maps of biological features. We demonstrate how neuroscience can increasingly be approached as a data science, complete with detailed multiomic datasets, tools for representing diverse data types, and an extensive repertoire of analytics. We also outline methodological and conceptual challenges for disentangling relationships among brain maps. Ultimately, studying the brain from an integrative perspective changes the nature of scientific questions that can be asked, as well as the culture and conduct of scientific inquiry.

Citations

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• Cerebral blood perfusion across biological systems and the human lifespan
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Discussions

• Integrating and interpreting brain maps | doi.org/10.1016/j.ti... Imaging and recording technologies make it possible to map multiple biological features of the brain. How can these features be conce [bsky, 74 points, 1 comments]

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