Network building and analysis in connectomics studies: a review of algorithms, databases and technologies

AbstractThe study of connectome, the complex system of connections in the human brain, has gained a central role in neurosciences. It has turned out to be popular in the field of neuroimaging to model and analyze the brain represented by a network. The graph model of the brain is a framework used to represent neuroanatomical regions or region of interest (ROI) as nodes and their connections. These connections, or edges, can either be functional, by representing physiological activity, or can be structural, representing anatomical connections formed by axonal fiber tracts. The development of new technologies for mapping of structural and functional brain connectivity has led to the creation of comprehensive network maps of neuronal circuits and systems. The architecture of these brain networks, named connectome, can be examined and analyzed with a large variety of graph theory tools. The purpose of this survey is to present a review of brain network by dealing (i) how to construct a brain graph, (ii) which measures may be applied to capture the organization of a brain network, (iii) how to compare the brain networks, (iv) the tools for the network analysis of brains, and (v) finally the databases storing the brain networks.
Source: Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics - Category: Bioinformatics Source Type: research