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Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain
Published on: October 13, 2023
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A network approach to brain form, cortical topology and human evolution
Emiliano Bruner1, Borja Esteve-Altava2, Diego Rasskin-Gutman3
1Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain. emiliano.bruner@cenieh.es.
Brain Structure & Function
|June 14, 2019
Summary
Network analysis reveals distinct topological organization in the human brain. The frontal lobe is independent, while posterior regions show integration, with the precentral gyrus acting as a crucial link.
Area of Science:
- Neuroanatomy
- Evolutionary Biology
- Network Science
Background:
- Network analysis quantifies system topology.
- Anatomical network analysis examines spatial organization and physical contact.
- Understanding brain topology is crucial for evolutionary neuroanatomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the spatial adjacency of major human brain regions.
- To analyze the topological features of the human brain's spatial organization.
- To investigate brain-braincase spatial influences on morphology.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a network model of human brain region adjacency.
- Applied network analysis to topological features.
- Assessed spatial and mechanical constraints from the braincase.
Main Results:
- The frontal lobe exhibits topological independence from posterior brain regions.
- Posterior brain regions demonstrate higher integration and reciprocal constraints.
- The precentral gyrus acts as a hinge connecting anterior and posterior brain areas.
- Lateral temporal cortex is highly influenced by neighbors; parietal cortex shows minimal constraint.
- Anterior fossa and parietal bones are most sensitive to brain-braincase organization.
Conclusions:
- Brain topology reveals distinct functional and developmental modularity.
- Brain-braincase interactions significantly constrain overall brain morphology.
- Topological properties are essential for inferring evolutionary variations and macroscopic differences in human brain evolution.
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