Multimodal Comparison of Electrical, Structural, and Functional Brain Connectivity

Braelyn A. Hewitt-Holbein et al.
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:45:00 PDT

This project examines how relationships among brain regions can be characterized through two complementary perspectives of connectivity: structural connectivity measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional connectivity measured with resting-state fMRI.

The central question is how signals recorded at electrodes in one region may relate to signals at electrodes in other regions through the combined influence of anatomical pathways and coordinated neural activity. Understanding these relationships is important for improving interpretation of electrophysiological recordings and for clarifying how different definitions of “connectivity” capture distinct aspects of brain organization.

To address this question, the project compares electrode-by-electrode correlation (or similarity) matrices derived from each modality. DTI provides a structural view by estimating white matter pathways that support anatomical communication between regions. Resting-state fMRI provides a functional view by quantifying correlated activity patterns across regions during rest. Comparing these matrices allows us to evaluate where these connectivity perspectives converge and where they differ.

This work is intended to provide a conceptual framework for interpreting electrophysiological signals in the context of both brain structure and large-scale functional organization. In the long term, understanding overlap and divergence across these connectivity models may help support more accurate interpretation of EEG/ECoG data and improve neuroscience research related to brain network function and dysfunction, including disorders such as epilepsy.