The complex brain

Sporns, O. (2022). The complex brain: connectivity, dynamics, information. Trends in cognitive sciences, 26(12), 1066-1067.

Understanding the brain's complexity requires shifting from a purely reductionist approach to focusing on its integrated system properties, specifically through the lens of connectivity, dynamics, and information. The author posits that while structural connectivity (the physical connections of the brain) defines the possibilities for neural states, it is the dynamics (the ever-changing patterns of activation) that bring these possibilities to life, resulting in information patterns. These informational patterns range from simple redundancy to more complex synergy, which involves the integration of distinct sources of information and is crucial yet poorly understood. The paper emphasizes that studying the interplay of these three domains is essential for elucidating how mental and cognitive states emerge from the brain's intricate organization, moving beyond the metaphor of complexity to a tangible, researchable set of principles.