2021/03/27 by Daniel J. Graham, D. B. Graham, Graham, Daniel
Neuroscience · #Functional Brain Connectivity Studies #Neural dynamics and brain function #Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2103.15032
As the field of connectomics has matured, it has expanded from mapping the\nexistence of connections between brain components to measuring the strength of\nconnections. This information is increasingly accessible via methodologies such\nas pairing functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR tractography in\nthe same human subject, as well as novel methods in non-human animals using\noptogenetics. Systems and network neuroscience have in recent years focused\nextensively on explaining correlation patterns of functional activity in the\nbrain in terms of the degree of connectedness of brain components, the\nso-called functional connectivity-structural connectivity relationship (SC-FC).\nWhat has been surprising has been how low the SC-FC correlations are. Why is it\nthat brain parts that are more well-connected appear not to engender more\ncorrelated activity between them? Several explanations have been proposed but\none possibility has not been considered: perhaps more neural activity doesn't\nimply more functional involvement. This article examines this possibility and\nproposes a new general framework for understanding brain network dynamics based\non the design constraints of large-scale network communication systems. With\nthis new perspective, we may start to answer the article's main question, and\nperhaps others.\n