Brain Shape Trumps Neural Connectivity in Century-Old Paradigm Shift

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Monash University's Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health has challenged the century-old belief that complex neural connectivity is the primary determinant of brain function. Using MRI scans and the principle of eigenmodes, the study found that the overall shape of an individual's brain has a more significant impact on cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior than previously thought. The findings offer new avenues for understanding brain function and disease, simplifying the study of how the brain functions, develops, and ages. The research team discovered a previously unappreciated relationship between brain shape and activity, highlighting the potential to predict brain function directly from its shape and explore individual differences in behavior and risk for psychiatric and neurological diseases.