Regions and Connections: Complementary Approaches to Characterize Brain Organization and Function.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is crucial for mapping human brain activity.
• Current analysis methods focus on regional properties or inter-regional interactions.
• The comparative utility of these approaches for studying neural processes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of region-based versus connection-based fMRI analysis.
• To explore the relative advantages of each method for understanding neurobiological relevance, brain-behavior relationships, and individual differences.
• To provide a framework for advancing the study of macroscale brain organization and its behavioral correlates.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of region-based and connection-based fMRI metrics.
• Exploration of theoretical frameworks and illustrative examples.
• Discussion focused on neurobiological relevance, brain-behavior relationships, and individual differences.

Main Results:

• Region-based measures capture localized activity patterns.
• Connection-based measures reveal network interactions and communication.
• Both approaches offer complementary insights into brain organization and function.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the strengths and limitations of each fMRI analysis approach is vital.
• A combined or judicious selection of methods can enhance the study of brain-behavior relationships.
• This framework aids in a more comprehensive understanding of macroscale brain organization.