An up-to-date overview of the field of connectomics, introducing
concepts and mechanisms underlying brain network change at different
stages.
The human brain undergoes massive changes during its development, from
early childhood and the teenage years to adulthood and old age. Across a
wide range of species, from C. elegans and fruit flies to mice,
monkeys, and humans, information about brain connectivity (connectomes)
at different stages is now becoming available. New approaches in network
neuroscience can be used to analyze the topological, spatial, and
dynamical organization of such connectomes. In Changing Connectomes,
Marcus Kaiser provides an up-to-date overview of the field of
connectomics and introduces concepts and mechanisms underlying brain
network changes during evolution and development.
Drawing on a range of results from experimental, clinical, and
computational studies, Kaiser describes changes during healthy brain
maturation and during brain network disorders (including such
neurodevelopmental conditions as schizophrenia and depression), brain
injury, and neurodegenerative disorders including dementia. He argues
that brain stimulation is an area where understanding connectome
development could help in assessing long-term effects of interventions.
Changing Connectomes is a suitable starting point for researchers who
are new to the field of connectomics, and also for researchers who are
interested in the link between brain network organization and brain and
cognitive development in health and disease. Matlab/Octave code examples
available at the MIT Press website will allow computational neuroscience
researchers to understand and extend the shown mechanisms of connectome
development.
