[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Hierarchical overlapping modular structure in the human cerebral cortex improves individual identification

Fan et al., 2023, iScience — Neuroscience

Patterns: [Systems](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/systems)

## In short

The cortical functional network is nested modules in which large communities (wholes) recursively decompose into self-similar sub-modules (parts).

## What they found (results)

A nested-spectral partition algorithm combined with an edge-centric network model revealed hierarchical overlapping modules in cortex whose overlap structure is self-similar across hierarchical levels and symmetrical across hemispheres, with the control and salience/ventral attention networks contributing the most overlap. The hierarchical structure improved individual identifiability.

## What they set out to do (purpose)

To characterise hierarchical overlapping modular structure in the human cortex, going beyond models that treat brain modules as non-overlapping.

## Abstract

The idea that brain networks have a hierarchical modular organization is pervasive. Increasing evidence suggests that brain modules overlap. However, little is known about the hierarchical overlapping modular structure in the brain. In this study, we developed a framework to uncover brain hierarchical overlapping modular structures based on a nested-spectral partition algorithm and an edge-centric network model. Overlap degree between brain modules is symmetrical across hemispheres, with highest overlap observed in the control and salience/ventral attention networks. Furthermore, brain edges are clustered into two groups: intrasystem and intersystem edges, to form hierarchical overlapping modules. At different levels, modules are self-similar in the degree of overlap. Additionally, the brain's hierarchical structure contains more individual identifiable information than a single-level structure, particularly in the control and salience/ventral attention networks. Our results offer pathways for future studies aimed at relating the organization of hierarchical overlapping modules to brain cognitive behavior and disorders.

These researchers were not testing DSRP. The finding is theirs; the correspondence to DSRP is drawn by this site.

[Source](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106575)