Neuronal signalling and communication underpin virtually all aspects of brain activity and function. Network science approaches to modelling and analysing the dynamics of communication on networks have proved useful for simulating functional brain connectivity and predicting emergent network states. This Review surveys important aspects of communication dynamics in brain networks. We begin by sketching a conceptual framework that views communication dynamics as a necessary link between the empirical domains of structural and functional connectivity. We then consider how different local and global topological attributes of structural networks support potential patterns of network communication, and how the interactions between network topology and dynamic models can provide additional insights and constraints. We end by proposing that communication dynamics may act as potential generative models of effective connectivity and can offer insight into the mechanisms by which brain networks transform and process information.

神经元信号和交流实际上是大脑活动和功能的所有方面的基础。事实证明，用于模拟和分析网络通信动态的网络科学方法对于模拟功能性大脑连通性和预测紧急网络状态非常有用。这篇评论调查了大脑网络中沟通动态的重要方面。我们首先草拟一个概念框架，该框架将通信动态视为结构性和功能性连接的经验域之间的必要链接。然后，我们考虑结构网络的不同局部和全局拓扑属性如何支持网络通信的潜在模式，以及网络拓扑和动态模型之间的交互如何提供附加的见解和约束。