Space: A Missing Piece of the Dynamic Puzzle

Trends Cogn Sci. 2020 Feb;24(2):135-149. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.12.004. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Abstract

There has been growing interest in studying the temporal reconfiguration of brain functional connectivity to understand the role of dynamic interaction (e.g., integration and segregation) among neuronal populations in cognitive functions. However, it is crucial to differentiate between various dynamic properties because nearly all existing dynamic connectivity studies are presented as spatiotemporally dynamic, even though they fall into different categories. As a result, variation in the spatial patterns of functional structures are not well characterized. Here, we present the concepts of spatially, temporally, and spatiotemporally dynamics and use this terminology to categorize existing approaches. We review current spatially dynamic connectivity work, emphasizing that explicit incorporation of space into dynamic analyses can expand our understanding of brain function and disorder.

Keywords: fMRI; functional connectivity; spatially dynamic; spatiotemporally dynamic; temporally dynamic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Cognition
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*