Modeling functional interactions between cortical gyri and sulci

Abstract

Cortical gyrification, which is composed of convex and concave neural folding structures of gyri and sulci, is one of the most prominent features of human brain. A variety of recent studies in the brain mapping field have demonstrated the specific structural differences between gyral and sulcal regions. However, the potential functional differences and interactions between gyral and sulcal regions are largely unknown due to the complexity and variability of the structure and function of the cerebral cortex. In this dissertation, based on the proposed common structural and functional brain architecture which has anatomical, structural, and functional correspondences across different individuals, I develop four novel computational approaches to model the functional interactions between cortical gyri and sulci. Experimental results based on the four approaches demonstrate the meaningful functional interactions between cortical gyri and sulci, thus reveal novel functional architecture of cortical gyri and sulci, and provide novel understanding of functional mechanisms of human cerebral cortex.