Evolution Trend of Brain Science Research: An Integrated Bibliometric and Mapping Approach

TL;DR

This paper maps global trends in brain science research using bibliometric analysis and visualization tools, highlighting key countries, journals, and emerging themes.

Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive bibliometric review of brain science research trends and progress from 1990 to 2023.

Findings

China's research output rose rapidly post-2016 due to national initiatives like the China Brain Project.

Three research clusters emerged: Brain Exploration, Brain Protection, and Brain Creation.

China's influence lags in highly cited scholars despite high publication output.

Abstract

Brain science research is considered the crown jewel of 21st‐century scientific research; the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan have elevated brain science research to a national strategic level. This study employs bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph visualization to map global trends, research hotspots, and collaborative networks in brain science, providing insights into the field's evolving landscape and future directions.

We analyzed 13,590 articles (1990–2023) from the Web of Science Core Collection using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Metrics included publication volume, co‐authorship networks, citation patterns, keyword co‐occurrence, and burst detection. Analytical tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and online bibliometric platforms were employed to facilitate this investigation.

The United States, China, and Germany dominated research output, with China's publications rising from sixth to second globally post‐2016, driven by national initiatives like the China Brain Project. However, China exhibited limited international collaboration compared to the United States and European Union. Key journals included Human Brain Mapping and Journal of Neural Engineering, while emergent themes centered on “task analysis,” “deep learning,” and “brain–computer interfaces” (BCIs). Research clusters revealed three focal areas: (1) Brain Exploration (e.g., fMRI, diffusion tensor imaging), (2) Brain Protection (e.g., stroke rehabilitation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapies), and (3) Brain Creation (e.g., neuromorphic computing, BCIs integrated with AR/VR). Despite China's high output, its influence lagged in highly cited scholars, reflecting a “quantity‐over‐quality” challenge.

Brain science research is in a golden period of development. This bibliometric analysis offers the first comprehensive review, encapsulating research trends and progress in brain science. It reveals current research frontiers and crucial directions, offering a strategic roadmap for researchers and policymakers to navigate countries when planning research layouts.

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