The Physics of Brain Network Architecture, Function, and Control

Explore the complex network architecture of the human brain in this 52-minute lecture from the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into how structural connections support long-range functional interactions and thought processes. Learn about new non-invasive imaging techniques that allow for comprehensive mapping of brain connections in individuals. Discover approaches to understanding how perturbations propagate through brain networks, driving new activity states. Examine control points in brain networks, characterize activity state trajectories, and investigate the evolution of network control from childhood to adulthood. Gain insights into how the brain controls its own dynamics, how we control our behavior, and potential applications for controlling abnormal brain dynamics in conditions like severe epilepsy. This colloquium, presented by Danielle Bassett from the University of Pennsylvania, combines graph theory, network control theory, and optimization to shed light on the physics of brain network architecture, function, and control.