Do Hubs Exist in the Brain?

Abstract

This chapter investigates the network hubs' existence and critical role in the brain. More specifically, we aim to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to validate the presence of network hubs. Then, we will use pharmacology and optogenetic tools to examine their causal role in behavior. This study exploits a broad range of areas including but not limited to cellular biology, animal surgery, behavioral training, and computational modeling of neuroimaging and behavioral data, topics that are different but complementary and essential to developing this research question successfully.