Title |
The Conundrum of Functional Brain Networks: Small-World Efficiency or Fractal Modularity
|
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Published in |
Frontiers in Physiology, January 2012
|
DOI | 10.3389/fphys.2012.00123 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Lazaros K. Gallos, Mariano Sigman, Hernán A. Makse |
Abstract |
The human brain has been studied at multiple scales, from neurons, circuits, areas with well-defined anatomical and functional boundaries, to large-scale functional networks which mediate coherent cognition. In a recent work, we addressed the problem of the hierarchical organization in the brain through network analysis. Our analysis identified functional brain modules of fractal structure that were inter-connected in a small-world topology. Here, we provide more details on the use of network science tools to elaborate on this behavior. We indicate the importance of using percolation theory to highlight the modular character of the functional brain network. These modules present a fractal, self-similar topology, identified through fractal network methods. When we lower the threshold of correlations to include weaker ties, the network as a whole assumes a small-world character. These weak ties are organized precisely as predicted by theory maximizing information transfer with minimal wiring costs. |
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Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
Italy | 1 | <1% |
South Africa | 1 | <1% |
Finland | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Belarus | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 97 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 29 | 28% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 22 | 21% |
Student > Master | 11 | 11% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 8 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 7% |
Other | 15 | 14% |
Unknown | 12 | 12% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Computer Science | 14 | 13% |
Neuroscience | 12 | 12% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 12 | 12% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 12 | 12% |
Physics and Astronomy | 12 | 12% |
Other | 30 | 29% |
Unknown | 12 | 12% |