Brede Database #

“Brede Database is a neuroinformatics database. It contains taxonomies of brain functions and brain regions as well as results from neuroimaging exeriments.

Results from meta-analysis of the data are presented, and search engines can, e.g., retrieve nearby brain coordinates based on a give Talairach coordinate.”

Since the original posting of this knowledge base article, the brede wiki has emerged to provide easier access to entered information:

Visit the Brede Wiki: https://www.nitrc.org/projects/bredewiki/

The Brede Wiki: A social neuroinformatics web-service with structured information from neuroscience

The attached files below include the Hagmann article on brain hubs, and the Raichle Snyder article on the default brain. #

Hagmann: Mapping the Structural Core of Human Cerebral Cortex

Raichle Snyder: A default mode of brain function: A brief history of an evolving idea

Disclaimer: This content was generated with the assistance of AI and then reviewed and edited by BrainMaster Technologies, Inc. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Mapping the Brain’s Structural and Functional Core #

Overview #

This neuroimaging research reveals a tightly linked relationship between the structural connectome of the human brain and its intrinsic functional networks. Together, the works of Hagmann et al. (2008) and Raichle & Snyder (2007) define how the brain’s structural architecture supports its default functional activity.

Structural Core of the Human Cortex (Hagmann et al., 2008) #

Study Summary #

Using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) and network analysis, Hagmann and colleagues identified a structural core in the posterior medial and parietal cortices, including regions such as the precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, and cuneus. These regions exhibit:

• High degree, strength, and betweenness centrality

• Dense intra- and interhemispheric connectivity

• Strong correspondence with resting-state functional networks

Key Findings #

• The posterior cingulate and precuneus act as connector hubs, integrating information across frontal, temporal, and parietal modules.

• The structural core overlaps substantially with the posterior components of the default mode network (DMN).

• There is a strong quantitative correlation (r² ≈ 0.6) between structural and functional connectivity within these core regions.

• The topology suggests a role in global information integration and functional coherence across the cortex.

The Default Mode of Brain Function (Raichle & Snyder, 2007) #

Concept and Origins #

Raichle and Snyder’s work traced the discovery of the default mode network (DMN)—a set of brain regions that remain metabolically active during rest and deactivate during goal-directed tasks. Using PET and fMRI, they demonstrated that:

• The brain maintains high intrinsic activity even in the absence of tasks.

• This activity consumes the majority of the brain’s energy budget (60–80%).

• The DMN includes the posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, medial prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobule.

Functional Significance #

The DMN reflects the brain’s intrinsic mode of operation, supporting:

• Self-referential processing, memory consolidation, and future planning

• Balance of excitation and inhibition across large-scale neural systems

• Theoretical models of Bayesian inference, where the brain continuously generates and updates predictions about the environment

Integrative Insights #

The structural hubs identified by Hagmann et al. correspond anatomically to the functional DMN nodes described by Raichle & Snyder. Together, these studies suggest that:

• Structural connectivity provides the scaffold for intrinsic functional dynamics.

• The posterior medial cortex is both structurally central and functionally dominant.

• These insights underpin modern interpretations of connectivity-based neurofeedback and clinical network modeling.