Cited by 912Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsComplex Network Analysis Techniques

Controllability of structural brain networks

Open access
Gu, Shi, Pasqualetti, Fabio, Cieslak, Matthew, Telesford, Qawi K., Yu, Alfred B., Kahn, Ari E., Medaglia, John D., Vettel, Jean M. +3 more·2015·Nature Communications

Abstract

Cognitive function is driven by dynamic interactions between large-scale neural circuits or networks, enabling behaviour. However, fundamental principles constraining these dynamic network processes have remained elusive. Here we use tools from control and network theories to offer a mechanistic explanation for how the brain moves between cognitive states drawn from the network organization of white matter microstructure. Our results suggest that densely connected areas, particularly in the default mode system, facilitate the movement of the brain to many easily reachable states. Weakly connected areas, particularly in cognitive control systems, facilitate the movement of the brain to difficult-to-reach states. Areas located on the boundary between network communities, particularly in attentional control systems, facilitate the integration or segregation of diverse cognitive systems. Our results suggest that structural network differences between cognitive circuits dictate their distinct roles in controlling trajectories of brain network function.

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  • The fronto-parietal attention network has high modal controllability, meaning that it is capable of affecting a wider range of possible neural states, including harder-to-reach states, than other large-scale networks.

    “and Gu et al.78 demonstrated that the fronto-parietal attention network has high modal controllability, meaning that it is capable of affecting a wider range of possible neural states, including harder-to-reach states, than other large-scale networks”

    From Paying attention to attention in depression (2019) · cites this paper as [78]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Khalil H. K. Nonlinear Systems 3rd edn Prentice Hall (2002).
  2. Isidori A. Communications and Control Engineering Series Springer (1999).
  3. Marx B., Koenig D. & Georges D. in American Control Conference, 2729-2734 (Boston, MA, USA, 2004).

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Authors
Gu, S., Pasqualetti, F., Cieslak, M., Telesford, Q. K., Yu, A. B., Kahn, A. E., Medaglia, J. D., Vettel, J. M., Miller, M. B., Grafton, S. T., & Bassett, D. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • University of California, Riverside (US)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
  • DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Bassett, Danielle S.
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2015-10-01
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
8414-8414
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2100145912
Cited by
912
References
146
Citations by year
2026: 81 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 106 · 2023: 102 · 2022: 103 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 79 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1
FWCI
38.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (W911NF-10-2-0022, 1441502, 1430279, W911NF-09-0001)
  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (W911NF-10-2-0022, BCS-1441502)
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 44393, P01NS044393)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32HD071844)
  • Army Research Office (W911NF-09-0001, BCS-1441502, W911NF-10-2-0022, W911NF)
  • Army Research Laboratory (W911-NF-10-2-0022, W911NF, W911NF‐09‐0001, BCS-1441502)
  • Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (W911NF‐09‐0001)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
Keywords
structural brain networks, controllability, cognitive states, default mode network, cognitive control, attentional control, white matter microstructure, network dynamics
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Nerve Net, Young Adult

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