Brain connectivity: complex, not chaotic

Abstract

The term "connections" is a commonly used and convenient shorthand for describing the complex organization of the brain, but it can easily lead to an overemphasis on pairwise or point-to-point, source-target network connectivity. Anatomical studies make clear that there are other important features to consider such as divergence and collateralization (axons or bundles branching to multiple targets), convergence (multiple bundles from different sources converging on the same target), and scrambled topography along a trajectory. This short "Did You Know" communication elaborates on several of these features from the anatomical perspective, while inviting continued dialogue with the tractography community in addressing the shared goals of better understanding brain organization.