Structure of brain functional networks

Brain is a complex network optimized both for segregated and distributed information processing. To perform cognitive tasks, different areas of the brain must “cooperate,” thereby forming complex networks of interactions also known as brain functional networks. Previous studies have shown that these networks exhibit “small-world” characteristics. Small-world topology, however, is a general property of all brain functional networks and does not capture structural changes in these networks in response to different stimuli or cognitive tasks. Here we show how novel graph theoretic techniques can be utilized for precise analysis of brain functional networks. These techniques allow us to detect structural changes in brain functional networks in response to different stimuli or cognitive tasks. For certain types of cognitive tasks we have found that these networks exhibit geometric structure in addition to the small-world topology. The method has been applied to the electrocorticographic signals of six epileptic patients.