Highlights
Large-scale functional network map of the entire human brain
Cortical networks based on multiband fMRI, recently-identified regions
Subcortical extension of networks covering all subcortical structures
Multiple quality assessments demonstrate robustness of functional networks
Network atlas released as public resource, providing framework for future studies
ABSTRACT Understanding complex systems such as the human brain requires characterization of the system’s architecture across multiple levels of organization – from neurons, to local circuits, to brain regions, and ultimately large-scale brain networks. Here we focus on characterizing the human brain’s large-scale network organization, as it provides an overall framework for the organization of all other levels. We developed a highly principled approach to identify cortical network communities at the level of functional systems, calibrating our community detection algorithm using extremely well-established sensory and motor systems as guides. Building on previous network partitions, we replicated and expanded upon well-known and recently identified networks, including several higher-order cognitive networks such as a left-lateralized language network. We expanded these cortical networks to subcortex, revealing 358 highly organized subcortical parcels that take part in forming whole-brain functional networks. Notably, the identified subcortical parcels are similar in number to a recent estimate of the number of cortical parcels (360). This whole-brain network atlas – released as an open resource for the neuroscience community – places all brain structures across both cortex and subcortex into a single large-scale functional framework, with the potential to facilitate a variety of studies investigating large-scale functional networks in health and disease.
Author Contributions (using CRediT Taxonomy, http://www.cell.com/pb/assets/raw/shared/guidelines/CRediT-taxonomy.pdf)
Conceptualization, K.K., A.A., M.W.C.; Methodology, M.S., J.L.J., K.K., G.R., A.A., M.W.C.; Formal Analysis, M.S., J.L.J., K.K.; Data Curation, J.L.J., K.K.; Visualization, M.S., J.L.J.; Writing – Original Draft, M.S., J.L.J., A.A., M.W.C.; Writing – Review & Editing, M.S., J.L.J., G.R., A.A., M.W.C.; Supervision, A.A., M.W.C.
Acknowledgements
Data were provided by the Human Connectome Project, WU-Minn Consortium (Principal Investigators: David Van Essen and Kamil Ugurbil; 1U54MH091657) funded by the 16 NIH Institutes and Centers that support the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research; and by the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience at Washington University. This work was supported by the NIH via awards K99/R00-MH096801 (Cole), DP5-OD012109 (Anticevic), R01-MH109520 (Cole), R01-MH108590 (Anticevic), R01-AG055556 (Cole), and R01- MH112189 (Anticevic), as well as the Brain and Behavior Foundation (NARSAD) Independent Investigator grant (Anticevic) and ARRS J7-6829 (Repovs).
Footnotes
↵5 Senior authors