Geometric constraints on human brain function

Abstract The anatomy of the brain necessarily constrains its function, but precisely how remains unclear. The classical and dominant paradigm in neuroscience is that neuronal dynamics are driven by interactions between discrete, functionally specialized cell populations connected by a complex array of axonal fibres 1–3 . However, predictions from neural field theory, an established mathematical framework for modelling large-scale brain activity 4–6 , suggest that the geometry of the brain may represent a more fundamental constraint on dynamics than complex interregional connectivity 7,8 . Here, we confirm these theoretical predictions by analysing human magnetic resonance imaging data acquired under…