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X-WR-CALNAME:Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (HKUECE) 電機與計算機工程系
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (HKUECE) 電機與計算機工程系
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TZID:Asia/Hong_Kong
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250918T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20250918T120000
DTSTAMP:20260510T144813
CREATED:20250901T075531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T024245Z
UID:113154-1758193200-1758196800@ece.hku.hk
SUMMARY:Seminar on Hierarchical Modular Organisation in the Brain: Segregation\, Integration and Their Balance Underlying Cognitive Diversity
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\nThe brain is a highly nonlinear complex network system supporting diverse cognitive abilities. The locally segregated and globally integrated processing are the two basic foundations of cognition. However\, how the brain organises the effective processing of neural information at both local and global scales\, so as to support diverse cognitive tasks\, is not well understood. A physical hypothesis is that the brain system is in a dynamic critical state at rest and can support the balance of separation and integration in supporting diverse cognitive abilities. However\, there has been no clear evidence on whether the resting brain is in the segregation-integration balance at the whole-brain scale\, and how it is associated with diverse cognitive abilities. We address the above open interdisciplinary question using an eigenmode-based approach to identify hierarchical modules in structural and functional brain networks by combining large-scale models and fMRI data. The structural brain network displays hierarchical modular organisation inherently supporting multilevel segregation and integration modes. We found that the critical state can best recruit such hierarchical modes to maximise the diversity in the functional connectivity. In a large sample of healthy young adults (n=991) from the Human Connectome Project (HCP)\, we demonstrate that resting brain functional networks are on average close to a balanced state. This state allows for a balanced time dwelling at segregated and integrated configurations\, and highly flexible switching between them. Meanwhile\, we demonstrate that network segregation\, integration and their balance in resting brains predict individual differences in diverse cognitive phenotypes. We also show that weak links\, which are largely ignored in network neuroscience\, play a crucial role in supporting the segregation-integration balance and cognitive functions. Our findings provide a systems-level understanding of the brain’s functioning principles in supporting diverse functional demands and cognitive abilities\, and advance modern network neuroscience theories of human cognition\, which may shed light on dysfunctional segregation and integration in neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. Examples of application of the framework to stress and ADHD are briefly presented. \nSpeaker\nProf. Changsong ZHOU\nChair Professor of Physics and Complex Systems\,\nDepartment of Physics;\nDirector of Centre for Nonlinear Studies;\nDirector of Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies;\nDirector of Life Science Imaging Centre (LSIC)\,\nHong Kong Baptist University \nSpeaker’s Biography\nProf. Changsong ZHOU\, Chair Professor of Physics and Complex Systems in the Department of Physics\, Director of Centre for Nonlinear Studies\, Director of the University Central Research Facility Life Science Imaging Centre\, Director of Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies\, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)\, and RGC Senior Research Fellow 2023. He received the HKBU President’s Award for Outstanding Young Researcher 2011 and the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work 2021. His research interests are analysis and modelling of complex connectivity and activity in neural systems using physical science approaches in collaboration with experimental neuroscientists. He has published over 180 research papers in interdisciplinary journals such as Nature Communications\, PNAS\, and Physical Review Letters. \nOrganiser\nDr. Alex Tze Lun LEONG\nDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering\,\nThe University of Hong Kong \nSupported By
URL:https://ece.hku.hk/events/20250918-1/
LOCATION:Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two\, G/F\, Run Run Shaw Building\, The University of Hong Kong
CATEGORIES:Highlights,Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ece.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1280-2.jpg
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