From gene networks to brain networks

Nat Neurosci. 2003 Aug;6(8):795-9. doi: 10.1038/nn1096.

Abstract

The brain's structural organization is so complex that 2,500 years of analysis leaves pervasive uncertainty about (i) the identity of its basic parts (regions with their neuronal cell types and pathways interconnecting them), (ii) nomenclature, (iii) systematic classification of the parts with respect to topographic relationships and functional systems and (iv) the reliability of the connectional data itself. Here we present a prototype knowledge management system (http://brancusi.usc.edu/bkms/) for analyzing the architecture of brain networks in a systematic, interactive and extendable way. It supports alternative interpretations and models, is based on fully referenced and annotated data and can interact with genomic and functional knowledge management systems through web services protocols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Genes / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Information Management*
  • Medical Informatics*
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Terminology as Topic
  • User-Computer Interface