Complex networks: new trends for the analysis of brain connectivity

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent complex network methods for analyzing brain connectivity, highlighting how these approaches reveal the brain's ability to balance local processing and global integration in various states.

Contribution

It introduces novel complex network techniques specifically tailored for understanding brain connectivity and neural dynamics.

Findings

Brain networks efficiently manage local and global information transfer.

Complex network approaches reveal brain adaptability during different states.

New methods improve understanding of brain's functional organization.

Abstract

Today, the human brain can be studied as a whole. Electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, or functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques provide functional connectivity patterns between different brain areas, and during different pathological and cognitive neuro-dynamical states. In this Tutorial we review novel complex networks approaches to unveil how brain networks can efficiently manage local processing and global integration for the transfer of information, while being at the same time capable of adapting to satisfy changing neural demands.