Cortical Networks and Cognitive Functions, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany.
Front Syst Neurosci. 2011 Jul 7;5:58. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2011.00058. eCollection 2011.
This review focuses on the role of long-range connectivity as one element of brain structure that is of key importance for the functional-anatomical organization of the cortex. In this context, we discuss the putative guiding principles for mapping brain function and structure onto the cortical surface. Such mappings reveal a high degree of functional-anatomical segregation. Given that brain regions frequently maintain characteristic connectivity profiles and the functional repertoire of a cortical area is closely related to its anatomical connections, long-range connectivity may be used to define segregated cortical areas. This methodology is called connectivity-based parcellation. Within this framework, we investigate different techniques to estimate connectivity profiles with emphasis given to non-invasive methods based on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and diffusion tractography. Cortical parcellation is then defined based on similarity between diffusion tractograms, and different clustering approaches are discussed. We conclude that the use of non-invasively acquired connectivity estimates to characterize the functional-anatomical organization of the brain is a valid, relevant, and necessary endeavor. Current and future developments in dMRI technology, tractography algorithms, and models of the similarity structure hold great potential for a substantial improvement and enrichment of the results of the technique.
这篇综述重点探讨了长程连接作为大脑结构的一个关键要素在皮层的功能-解剖组织中的作用。在这方面，我们讨论了将大脑功能和结构映射到皮质表面的假设指导原则。这些映射揭示了高度的功能-解剖分离。鉴于脑区经常保持特征性的连接模式，并且一个皮层区域的功能范围与其解剖连接密切相关，因此长程连接可用于定义分离的皮层区域。这种方法称为基于连接的分区。在这个框架内，我们研究了不同的技术来估计连接模式，重点介绍了基于扩散磁共振成像（dMRI）和扩散轨迹的非侵入性方法。然后基于扩散轨迹之间的相似性定义皮层分区，并讨论了不同的聚类方法。我们的结论是，使用非侵入性获得的连接估计来描述大脑的功能-解剖组织是一种有效、相关且必要的努力。dMRI 技术、轨迹算法和相似性结构模型的当前和未来发展为该技术的结果的实质性改进和丰富提供了巨大的潜力。
