Cited by 3,260Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsComplex Network Analysis Techniques

The Human Connectome: A Structural Description of the Human Brain

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Sporns, Olaf, Tononi, Giulio, Kötter, Rolf·2005·PLoS Computational Biology

Abstract

The connection matrix of the human brain (the human "connectome") represents an indispensable foundation for basic and applied neurobiological research. However, the network of anatomical connections linking the neuronal elements of the human brain is still largely unknown. While some databases or collations of large-scale anatomical connection patterns exist for other mammalian species, there is currently no connection matrix of the human brain, nor is there a coordinated research effort to collect, archive, and disseminate this important information. We propose a research strategy to achieve this goal, and discuss its potential impact.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010042

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  • A recent focus on brain connectivity as the underlying principle of the brain has gained eminence in the past decade, culminating in the search for the connectome, or the brain's wiring diagram.

    “While a network approach to brain function is not a new idea, 25,49,68,85,88 a recent focus on brain connectivity as the underlying principle of the brain has gained eminence in the past decade, culminating in the search for the connectome, or the brain's “wiring diagram.”89”

    From Graph theory analysis of complex brain networks: new concepts in brain mapping applied to neurosurgery (2016) · cites this paper as [89]

    The Introduction proposes the human “connectome” as a structural description of the brain’s elements and connections, and describes emerging network theories of cognition. It does not establish that connectivity gained prominence over the preceding decade, so the claim’s timeline is not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The anatomical accuracy of diffusion-weighted tractography continues to be a matter of controversy, and reconstructing connectomes with both high sensitivity and high specificity remains challenging.

    “However, the anatomical accuracy of diffusion-weighted tractography, which infers neuronal pathways from tissue water diffusion direction, continues to be a matter of controversy, and reconstructing connectomes with both high sensitivity and high specificity remains challenging (Sporns et al. 2005; Bastiani et al. 2012; Jbabdi et al. 2013, 2015; Thomas et al. 2014; Azadbakht et al. 2015; Calabrese”

    From Diffusion MRI-based cortical connectome reconstruction: dependency on tractography procedures and neuroanatomical characteristics (2018) · cites this paper as Sporns et al. 2005

    In “Macroscale: Brain Regions and Pathways” (page unavailable), the paper says the relationship between diffusion-imaging results, fiber tracts, and neuronal connections remains controversial, and it describes limitations in acquisition and processing. It also says no single mapping method is likely to be sufficiently comprehensive. It does not specifically address the challenge of achieving both high sensitivity and high specificity in reconstructed connectomes. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Quantitative measures extracted for individual fiber pathways can be used to construct a structural connectivity matrix mapping the whole-brain network of structural connectivity between all pairs of gray matter regions.

    “Quantitative measures extracted for individual fiber pathways can also be used to construct a structural connectivity matrix to map the whole-brain network of structural connectivity between all pairs of gray matter regions (Hagmann et al., 2008a; Sporns et al., 2005).”

    From Quantitative mapping of the brain’s structural connectivity using diffusion MRI tractography: A review (2022) · cites this paper as Sporns et al., 2005

    In “Steps Toward the Human Connectome,” the paper proposes using probabilistic tractography of fiber pathways to produce an all-to-all structural connectivity matrix for the human brain. It specifies a voxel-wise probabilistic matrix, however, rather than a matrix between all pairs of gray-matter regions, and does not specify quantitative measures extracted for each individual pathway. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Medical neuralnanorobots are expected to have the capacity for real-time, non-destructive monitoring of single-neuron and single-synapse neuroelectric activity, local neuropeptide traffic, and other relevant functional data, while also allowing the acquisition of fundamental structural information from neuron surfaces, to enhance the connectome map of a living human brain.

    “Medical neuralnanorobots are expected to have the capacity for real-time, non-destructive monitoring of single-neuron and single-synapse neuroelectric activity, local neuropeptide traffic, and other relevant functional data, while also allowing the acquisition of fundamental structural information from neuron surfaces, to enhance the connectome map of a living human brain”

    From Human Brain/Cloud Interface (2019) · cites this paper as Sporns et al., 2005

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Frackowiak RSJ Friston KJ Frith C Dolan R Price CJ 2003 Human brain function, 2nd ed New York Academic Press 1,144 p.
  2. Mountcastle VB 1978 An organizing principle for cerebral function Edelman GM Mountcastle VB The mindful brain Cambridge MIT Press 7 50

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Authors
Sporns, O., Tononi, G., & Kötter, R.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Sporns, Olaf
Venue
PLoS Computational Biology
Published
2005
Volume
1
Issue
4
Pages
e42
ISSN
  • 1553-734X (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7358
OpenAlex
W2146693559
Cited by
3,260
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 127 · 2025: 184 · 2024: 188 · 2023: 191 · 2022: 232 · 2021: 231 · 2020: 244 · 2019: 235 · 2018: 194 · 2017: 216 · 2016: 203 · 2015: 220 · 2014: 166 · 2013: 168 · 2012: 134
FWCI
2.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Computational Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • James S. McDonnell Foundation
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R21 DA 15647-01, R21DA015647)
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
human connectome, structural connectivity, structural brain networks, research strategies
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Humans, Nerve Net, Neurons, Synapses

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