PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diffusion tractography and functional/effective connectivity MRI provide a better understanding of the structural and functional human brain connectivity. This review will underline the major recent methodological developments and their exceptional respective contributions to physiological and pathophysiological studies in vivo. We will also emphasize the benefits provided by computational models of complex networks such as graph theory. RECENT FINDINGS: Imaging structural and functional brain connectivity has revealed the complex brain organization into large-scale networks. Such an organization not only permits the complex information segregation and integration during high cognitive processes but also determines the clinical consequences of alterations encountered in development, ageing, or neurological diseases. Recently, it has also been demonstrated that human brain networks shared topological properties with the so-called 'small-world' mathematical model, allowing a maximal efficiency with a minimal energy and wiring cost. SUMMARY: Separately, magnetic resonance tractography and functional MRI connectivity have both brought new insights into brain organization and the impact of injuries. The small-world topology of structural and functional human brain networks offers a common framework to merge structural and functional imaging as well as dynamical data from electrophysiology that might allow a comprehensive definition of the brain organization and plasticity.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diffusion tractography and functional/effective connectivity MRI provide a better understanding of the structural and functional human brain connectivity. This review will underline the major recent methodological developments and their exceptional respective contributions to physiological and pathophysiological studies in vivo. We will also emphasize the benefits provided by computational models of complex networks such as graph theory. RECENT FINDINGS: Imaging structural and functional brain connectivity has revealed the complex brain organization into large-scale networks. Such an organization not only permits the complex information segregation and integration during high cognitive processes but also determines the clinical consequences of alterations encountered in development, ageing, or neurological diseases. Recently, it has also been demonstrated that human brain networks shared topological properties with the so-called 'small-world' mathematical model, allowing a maximal efficiency with a minimal energy and wiring cost. SUMMARY: Separately, magnetic resonance tractography and functional MRI connectivity have both brought new insights into brain organization and the impact of injuries. The small-world topology of structural and functional human brain networks offers a common framework to merge structural and functional imaging as well as dynamical data from electrophysiology that might allow a comprehensive definition of the brain organization and plasticity.
Authors: Ulf Eckert; Coraline D Metzger; Julia E Buchmann; Jörn Kaufmann; Annemarie Osoba; Meng Li; Adam Safron; Wei Liao; Johann Steiner; Bernhard Bogerts; Martin Walter Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2011-09-20 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: C J Honey; O Sporns; L Cammoun; X Gigandet; J P Thiran; R Meuli; P Hagmann Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-02-02 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Liangsuo Ma; Joel L Steinberg; F Gerard Moeller; Sade E Johns; Ponnada A Narayana Journal: Expert Rev Neurother Date: 2015-10-29 Impact factor: 4.618
Authors: Limin Chen; Arabinda Mishra; Allen T Newton; Victoria L Morgan; Elizabeth A Stringer; Baxter P Rogers; John C Gore Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2011-10-06 Impact factor: 2.546