New version of Actflow Toolbox just released (, adding glasso FC functionality. Demo: We found that glasso FC is an improvement on the fMRI field-standard functional connectivity measure (correlation):

The full peer-reviewed (and open access) article is available here: "Distributed network flows generate localized category selectivity in human visual cortex".Thanks to coauthors @carrisa_cocuzza @RUBENSARO @taku_ito1 @BrianKeaneLab and @RaviMill!

What do you want to know?.

While surprising, this is broadly consistent with recent convolutional neural network models of vision (featuring cross-region/layer vector transformations), though it is less compatible with recurrent neural network models (featuring within-region processing) [10/N].

Overall, we found that visual category selectivity – traditionally assumed to reflect localized within-region processes – is generated by distributed cross-region activity flows [9/N].

But is the visual hierarchy important for category selectivity? Yes, adding V1-indirect flows improved flow model accuracy. This suggests V1-direct flows generate category selectivity, but complex hierarchical flows add additional category selective neural activity [8/N]

We found that the model using direct connectivity from V1 to each category-selective visual region was effective at generating category selectivity, demonstrating activity flows directly from V1 are sufficient for generating visual category selectivity [7/N]

This whole-brain model did not reflect the visual system’s hierarchical organization (starting in V1), however. We then tested a series of V1-initiated models, testing the role of distributed V1-initiated activity flows in generating localized visual responses [6/N]

We first tested a whole-brain model, with all empirical stimulus-evoked activity outside the ROI generating (via activity flows) localized category selective responses. Selective responses were generated for all visual categories (faces, places, body parts, and tools) [5/N]

We used a rigorous empirical approach with fMRI to estimate activity flows generating stimulus-evoked activity: activity flow mapping (. Further, causal principles were used to identify more valid functional connections for modeling activity flows [4/N]

Our prior work showed cross-region flows generate many functions. Do they even generate highly “localized” functions? We show that even the most localized responses, such as face selectivity in the fusiform face area, are generated by distributed flows [3/N].

Decades of research has shown that specialized regions respond selectively to visual categories faces, places, body parts, and tools. But how is that selectivity generated? Conventional theory suggests within-region processes, but what about cross-region activity flows? [2/N].

Lab’s latest out at PLOS Comp Biol, led by @carrisa_cocuzza: “Distributed network flows generate localized category selectivity in human visual cortex”. This one changed how I think the brain works! Even "localized" functions are likely generated by distributed processes [1/N]

RT @carrisa_cocuzza: 🚨 This work is out now in @PLOSCompBiol! 🚨🧠.This work was a huge labor of love and curiosity during grad school workin….

RT @NobelPrize: BREAKING NEWS.The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2024 #NobelPrize in Physics to John J. Hopfiel….

"Bridging multitask representational geometry and intrinsic connectivity in the human brain" .@LakshmanCogSci is presenting at #CCN2024, reporting our latest insights into how connectivity generates representational transformations! Poster A144. More info:

Lab’s latest: “Cognitive flexibility as the shifting of brain network flows by flexible neural representations”, a solo paper by yours truly, making the case that brain activity flow shifts are essential to mental flexibility (and quite interesting too!)

RT @doristsao: This is unbelievable. How can a country that cares about the future begrudge $300 million to unlock the secrets of the mind….

RT @DHSchultz_: Another update on our concussion research project: There are mixed results in the literature regar….

RT @DHSchultz_: This paper is now published ( led by @hc_bouchard. Briefly, we found disruptions to within and betw….

RT @JCompNeurol: Peer review sucks, but it beats the alternative - so let’s make it better by keeping in mind that the point of peer review….

RT @_TheTransmitter: How scuba diving helped me embrace open science. By @sattertt.