Networks are becoming a ubiquitous metaphor for the understanding of complex biological systems, spanning the range between molecular signalling pathways, neural networks in the brain, and interacting species in a food web. In many models, we face an intricate interplay between the topology of the network and the dynamics of the system, which is generally very hard to disentangle. A dynamical feature that has been subject of intense research in various fields are correlations between the noisy activity of nodes in a network. We consider a class of systems, where discrete signals are sent along the links of the network. Such systems are of particular relevance in neuroscience, because they provide models for networks of neurons that use action potentials for communication. We study correlations in dynamic networks with arbitrary topology, assuming linear pulse coupling. With our novel approach, we are able to understand in detail how specific structural motifs affect pairwise correlations. Based on a power series decomposition of the covariance matrix, we describe the conditions under which very indirect interactions will have a pronounced effect on correlations and population dynamics. In random networks, we find that indirect interactions may lead to a broad distribution of activation levels with low average but highly variable correlations. This phenomenon is even more pronounced in networks with distance dependent connectivity. In contrast, networks with highly connected hubs or patchy connections often exhibit strong average correlations. Our results are particularly relevant in view of new experimental techniques that enable the parallel recording of spiking activity from a large number of neurons, an appropriate interpretation of which is hampered by the currently limited understanding of structure-dynamics relations in complex networks.

Volker Pernice

Benjamin Staude

Stefano Cardanobile

Stefan Rotter

PLoS Computational Biology

PLOS 计算生物学具有特殊意义的作品，通过应用计算方法，进一步加深了我们对从分子和细胞到患者群体和生态系统的各个尺度的生命系统的理解。读者包括生命和计算科学家，他们可以将这里介绍的重要发现提升到新的发现水平。必须将研究文章声明为属于相关部分。有关这些部分的更多信息，请参见提交指南。研究文章应模拟生物系统的各个方面，展示方法和科学的新颖性，并提供深刻的新生物学见解。通常，应验证通过计算发现生物的可靠性和意义，并通过实验研究丰富。发表时不需要包含实验验证，但应尽可能引用。通过计算包含对适度生物学发现的实验验证并不能使手稿适合 PLOS 计算生物学。特别指定为方法论文的研究文章应描述已显示的具有特殊重要性的杰出方法，或有望提供新的生物学见解.该方法必须已经被广泛采用，或者有望被广大用户社区广泛采用。仅当这些增强功能带来卓越的新功能时，才会考虑对现有已发布方法的增强。

PLOS Computational Biology publishes research of significant importance that aims to deepen our understanding of life systems across various scales, from molecules and cells to patient populations and ecosystems, through the application of computational methods. The journal's readership includes life scientists and computational scientists who can leverage the important findings presented here to drive new discoveries. Research articles must clearly state their relevance to the appropriate sections, with specific requirements outlined in the submission guidelines. Articles should model various aspects of biological systems, demonstrate novelty in methods and science, and provide profound new biological insights. Typically, the reliability and significance of biological findings derived from computational approaches should be validated through experimental studies, although experimental validation is not required at the time of publication, relevant experiments should be cited whenever possible. Merely including computational validation of moderate biological findings does not qualify a manuscript for PLOS Computational Biology. Research articles designated as methods papers should describe outstanding methods that have been shown to be of special importance or have the potential to provide new biological insights. Enhancements to existing published methods will only be considered if they bring about significant new functionalities.

PLOS 计算生物学期刊发表具有重要意义的研究，旨在通过应用计算方法加深我们对生命系统的理解，涵盖从分子和细胞到患者群体和生态系统的各个尺度。该期刊的读者包括生命科学和计算科学的研究人员，他们可以利用这里的重要发现推动新的研究进展。所有研究文章必须明确声明属于相关部分，具体要求请参见提交指南。研究文章应模拟生物系统的各个方面，展示方法和科学的新颖性，并提供深刻的新生物学见解。通常情况下，计算发现的生物学可靠性和意义应通过实验研究进行验证，尽管发表时不强制要求包含实验验证，但应尽可能引用相关实验。仅通过计算验证的适度生物学发现并不足以使手稿适合发表在PLOS 计算生物学期刊上。特别指定为方法论文的研究文章应描述那些已被广泛采用或有潜力被广泛使用的杰出方法，这些方法必须具有特殊的重要性，或者能够提供新的生物学见解。只有当这些增强功能带来显著的新特性时，才会考虑对现有已发布方法的改进。

How Structure Determines Correlations in Neuronal Networks

This work describes the conditions under which very indirect interactions will have a pronounced effect on correlations and population dynamics in random networks, and finds that indirect interactions may lead to a broad distribution of activation levels with low average but highly variable correlations.

Category	Quartile
生物学	2
生物学, 生化研究方法	2
生物学, 数学与计算生物学	2

How Structure Determines Correlations in Neuronal Networks

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY	1