The Nature of Brain Networks in Cognitive Neuroimaging

该项目旨在澄清网络神经成像新兴领域的概念挑战。网络神经科学使用图论中的数学工具来理解大脑、大脑与精神的关系，以及神经和精神疾病的神经基础。然而，网络分析的高度抽象性在方法和概念上产生了深刻的分歧，即网络方法究竟揭示了大脑及其功能。本项目旨在清楚地阐明这些分歧，并利用科学哲学的工具来发展解决这些分歧所需的概念基础。该项目的研究结果将通过学术和公共渠道进行传播，并将引起网络神经成像专家、科学哲学家、临床神经科学家以及对大脑功能和功能障碍感兴趣的普通公众的兴趣。实践网络神经科学家之间分歧的中心点在于网络神经成像中揭示的结构在多大程度上具有生物学意义，而不仅仅是工具性的数学抽象，以及相关的功能是否以及在多大程度上可以归因于这些网络。研究小组将分析和建立在实践网络神经科学家的调查结果中，揭示这些概念上的分歧。然后，该项目寻求使用科学哲学的工具来开发一个概念框架，其核心目标有两个：展示不同的建模承诺如何影响大脑网络在生物学上真实或有意义的解释程度，并阐明在何种条件下功能可以归因于大脑网络。这个项目的结果将提供洞察网络方法的优势和局限性，当用于不同的研究目的在神经科学。这些见解将帮助研究人员克服目前威胁该领域进展的障碍，将开辟科学哲学研究的新途径，并将有助于更清晰地解释这一神经科学前沿领域的结果。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project seeks to clarify conceptual challenges in the burgeoning field of network neuroimaging. Network neuroscience uses mathematical tools from graph theory to understand the brain, its relationship to the mind, and the neural basis of neurological and psychiatric illnesses. However, the highly abstract nature of network analysis has produced deep methodological and conceptual disagreements regarding what exactly network methods reveal about the brain and its functions. This project aims to clearly articulate these disagreements and to use tools from philosophy of science to develop the conceptual foundations necessary to resolve them. The project’s findings will be disseminated through both scholarly and public channels and will be of interest to practicing network neuroimagers, philosophers of science, clinical neuroscientists, and members of the general public interested in brain function and malfunction.The central points of disagreement among practicing network neuroscientists concern the extent to which the structures revealed in network neuroimaging are biologically meaningful, as opposed to merely instrumental mathematical abstractions, and relatedly, whether and to what extent functions can be attributed to these networks. The research team will analyze and build on survey results among practicing network neuroscientists that unveil these conceptual disagreements. The project then seeks to use tools from philosophy of science to develop a conceptual framework with two central aims: To show how different modeling commitments affect the extent to which brain networks can be interpreted as biologically real or meaningful, and to articulate the appropriate conditions under which functions can be attributed to brain networks. The results of this project will provide insight into both the strengths and limitations of network methods when employed for different research purposes in neuroscience. These insights will help researchers overcome hurdles that currently threaten progress in the field, will open new avenues of research in philosophy of science, and will facilitate clearer interpretations of results in this cutting-edge area of neuroscience.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.