Functional Collectivity of complex brain networks

HECTOR H. BERRA; PABLO BALENZUELA; DANIEL FRAIMAN; DANTE R. CHIALVO

Complex Networks

UNESCO, EOLSS (Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems) PUBLISHERS

Lugar: Oxford, UK; Año: 2010;

Brain function is carried out by an astronomically large network of interconnected neurons. Thanks to the impressive progress in brain imaging techniques an increasing amount of spatiotemporal brain data is now available. The analysis of this data using statistical physics approaches allows for a reduction of the brain spatiotemporal dynamics into information flow on a complex network. Using this view, recent studies revealed that these brain networks share several principles with natural, social and technological systems. These notes summarize the most relevant advances in our understanding of the brain using this approach.