Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2012, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 344-349.

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Exploring Progress on Brain Networks (I):Research Characteristics, Methods and Three Major Types

FANG Jin-qing   

  1. Professor, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, China  
  • Received:2012-02-29 Revised:2012-03-29 Online:2012-12-25 Published:2012-12-25

Abstract: Brain network is a typical complex network for the most complex living systems, and it belongs to “network of networks”. At present, the research is focused on brain models from three levels, namely, microscopic scale (neuron), the mesoscale (neural cluster) and large scale (cortical area). Exploring brain network is very difficult because they influence each other and complicate among various brain levels. The author introduced explore process, research methods and main types of brain networks. 

Key words: network science method, brain network, structure network, functional network, effective network, network of networks