Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: A Review of Interpretation and Overreach

Authors

  • Leandre Escourbiac Centre for Connectomics, Bugey Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Belley, France Author
  • Juliane Bruckhoff Centre for Neuroimaging, Steigerwald Laboratory for Systems Neuroscience, Ebrach, Germany Author
  • Francesca-M Gauci-Ric Centre for Computational Neuroscience, Naxxar Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Naxxar, Malta Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22677908

Keywords:

Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex; Cognitive neuroscience; Neurofeedback; Evidence synthesis; Research methodology

Abstract

There is real interest in functional connectivity gradients across the cortex right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it
delivers the most value. We pull together the current evidence for functional connectivity gradients across the cortex, covering the
methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers
and reviewers are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the
evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

References

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". Nature Neuroscience 8(2014): 80-86. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". Neuron 10(2017): 91-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". NeuroImage 12(2020): 102-110. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14(2023): 113-122. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". Journal of Neuroscience 16(2014): 124-134. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a feasibility study". Brain 18(2017): 135-146. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a case study". Biological Psychiatry 20(2020): 146-158. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a meta-analysis". Cerebral Cortex 22(2023): 157-170. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a cross-platform survey". Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience 24(2014): 168-182. DOI:

1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004 7 10. Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a methods-comparison study". eLife 26(2017): 179-185. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". PNAS 28(2020): 190-197. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". Nature Communications 30(2023): 201-209. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". Nature Human Behaviour 32(2014): 212-221. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Cortex 34(2017): 223-233. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 36(2020): 234-245. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a feasibility study". Psychological Science 38(2023): 245-257. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a case study". Trends in Cognitive Sciences 40(2014): 256-269. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a meta-analysis". Trends in Neurosciences 42(2017): 267-281. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a cross-platform survey". Human Brain Mapping 44(2020): 278-284. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Tarasov Q, Quintero T, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a methods-comparison study". Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 46(2023): 289-296. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". Sleep 8(2014): 300-308. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". NeuroImage: Clinical 10(2017): 311-320. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". eNeuro 12(2020): 322-332. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Cognition 14(2023): 333-344. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". Nature Reviews Neurology 16(2014): 344-356. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Balogh E, Emmerich B, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a feasibility study". Nature Neuroscience 18(2017): 355-368. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Chiriac F, Farkas C, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a case study". Neuron 20(2020): 366-380. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Doncheva M, Marchetti D, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a meta-analysis". NeuroImage 22(2023): 377-383. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Emmerich T, Tarasov E, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a cross-platform survey". Nature Reviews Neuroscience 24(2014): 388-395. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Foscarini C, Chiriac F, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a methods-comparison study". Journal of Neuroscience 26(2017): 399-407. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". Brain 28(2020): 410-419. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". Biological Psychiatry 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". Cerebral Cortex 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". eLife 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a feasibility study". PNAS 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a case study". Nature Communications 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a meta-analysis". Nature Human Behaviour 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a cross-platform survey". Cortex 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a methods-comparison study". Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". Psychological Science 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". Trends in Cognitive Sciences 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". Trends in Neurosciences 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Human Brain Mapping 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a feasibility study". Sleep 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a case study". NeuroImage: Clinical 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a meta-analysis". eNeuro 22(2023): 597-605. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a cross-platform survey". Cognition 24(2014): 608-617. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Tarasov Q, Quintero T, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a methods-comparison study". Nature Reviews Neurology 26(2017): 619-629. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a benchmark study". Nature Neuroscience 28(2020): 630-641. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a systematic review". Neuron 30(2023): 641-653. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a comparative analysis". NeuroImage 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a pilot demonstration". Nature Reviews Neuroscience 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Functional Connectivity Gradients Across the Cortex: a longitudinal field study". Journal of Neuroscience 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Downloads

Published

2023-09-28