Complex Network Modeling: A New Approach to Neurosciences

Abstract

(from the chapter) Recently, many seemingly diverse systems have been found to share unique structural properties that in their turn greatly influence the dynamical features and function of these systems. In this chapter, we focus on recent discoveries about the structure and function of complex networks to show how emergent properties in neuronal systems can be studied using the tools developed in the last several years. We first introduce basic notions to understand what a complex network is and how one can characterize its topology. Next, we discuss some topological properties recently revealed in the literature and their connections to the structural properties of other complex networks found in many fields of science. The second part of this chapter is devoted to revise the relationship between the structural properties of brain-like systems and their dynamical behavior. In particular, we pay attention to synchronization phenomena, quite relevant in many contexts of neurosciences. We round off the chapter by outlining some perspectives and discussing future and promising lines of research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)