A closer look: High-resolution maps of brain connectivity

The human brain consists of a complex network of neuronal connections linking different brain regions together \cite{Bullmore_2009}. These connections are unique to every individual and are believed to encode their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. Decoding how the wiring patterns in the human brain vary between individuals and how it relates to our cognitive abilities can thus uncover immensely valuable knowledge about the human brain & behavior \cite{Park_2013}. That is why scientists are interested in studying and modeling this complex map of brain connections \cite{Fornito_2013}. In this pursuit, computational models are used to extract information from brain MRI scans and map a brain network that is formally referred to as a connectome (illustrated in Fig. 1).