# Model of Brain Activation Predicts the Neural Collective Influence Map of the Brain

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.04626 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1704.04626/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 15 Apr 2017.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Noise-cleaning the precision matrix of fMRI time series](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.02951/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Efficient complex systems have a modular structure, but modularity does not guarantee robustness, because efficiency also requires an ingenious interplay of the interacting modular components. The human brain is the elemental paradigm of an efficient robust modular system interconnected as a network of networks (NoN). Understanding the emergence of robustness in such modular architectures from the interconnections of its parts is a long-standing challenge that has concerned many scientists. Current models of dependencies in NoN inspired by the power grid express interactions among modules with fragile couplings that amplify even small shocks, thus preventing functionality. Therefore, we introduce a model of NoN to shape the pattern of brain activations to form a modular environment that is robust. The model predicts the map of neural collective influencers (NCIs) in the brain, through the optimization of the influence of the minimal set of essential nodes responsible for broadcasting information to the whole-brain NoN. Our results suggest new intervention protocols to control brain activity by targeting influential neural nodes predicted by network theory.