The brain is a network of interleaved neural circuits. In modern connectomics, brain connectivity is typically encoded as a network of nodes and edges, abstracting away the rich biological detail of local neuronal populations. Yet biological annotations for network nodes — such as gene expression, cytoarchitecture, neurotransmitter receptors or intrinsic dynamics — can be readily measured and overlaid on network models. Here we review how connectomes can be represented and analysed as annotated networks. Annotated connectomes allow us to reconceptualize architectural features of networks and to relate the connection patterns of brain regions to their underlying biology. Emerging work demonstrates that annotated connectomes help to make more veridical models of brain network formation, neural dynamics and disease propagation. Finally, annotations can be used to infer entirely new inter-regional relationships and to construct new types of network that complement existing connectome representations. In summary, biologically annotated connectomes offer a compelling way to study neural wiring in concert with local biological features.

大脑是一个交错的神经回路网络。在现代连接组学中，大脑连接通常被编码为节点和边缘的网络，抽象出局部神经元群体丰富的生物细节。然而，网络节点的生物学注释——例如基因表达、细胞结构、神经递质受体或内在动力学——可以很容易地测量并覆盖在网络模型上。在这里，我们回顾如何将连接组表示和分析为带注释的网络。带注释的连接组使我们能够重新概念化网络的架构特征，并将大脑区域的连接模式与其基础生物学联系起来。新兴工作表明，带注释的连接组有助于建立更真实的大脑网络形成、神经动力学和疾病传播模型。最后，注释可用于推断全新的区域间关系，并构建补充现有连接组表示的新型网络。总之，生物学注释的连接体提供了一种令人信服的方法来研究与局部生物学特征相一致的神经布线。