mammalian NERVOUS SYSTEM Macroconnections
mammalian NERVOUS SYSTEM Macroconnections
Embedded Files
Mammalian Macroconnection Data Tables Overview
📊 Scope of Data
• Coverage: All named and delineated major divisions of the mammalian nervous system (CNS and PNS).
• CNS tables: Include intrinsic connections within each division, extrinsic connections with other CNS divisions, and metadata.
• PNS tables: Currently limited to intrinsic PNS connections.
📚 Source of Data
• Derived from collated connection reports in the primary literature.
• Based on axonal pathway tracing experiments in rats (predominantly).
• Time span: ~50 years (early 1970s–2020s).
🔢 Scale
• >577,000 macroconnection reports
• >11 million data and metadata points (within-side and between-side connections).
• Numbers double when applied bilaterally.
🛠 Functionality
• Tables support search, filter, sort, and other interactive features.
• Tutorial available: How to use filters in Google Sheets.
• Downloadable Excel spreadsheet files included with original publications (see Macroconnection Data Sources below).
🧠 Nomenclature
• Gray matter terms and abbreviations follow Brain Maps 4.0 (Swanson, 2018).
• Some revisions are described in the publications.
• Additional references:
• Brain Maps page on this website
• Brain Maps 4.0 CNS Divisions spreadsheet
• Lookup table available below for abbreviations ↔ full names (BM4 and provisional BM5 nomenclature).
Brain Region Names & Abbreviations
Brain Region Names & Abbreviations
🔍 How to Use the Gray Matter Region Table
• Purpose:
Use the scrollable table below to look up the full name of a gray matter region if you only know its abbreviation, or vice versa.
• Interactive Features:
• Search: Quickly locate a specific abbreviation or name.
• Filter: Narrow results to a subset of regions.
• Sort: Organize entries alphabetically or by other criteria.
• Pop‑out view: Open the table in a new window for easier navigation and expanded functionality.
• Additional References:
• For divisions nomenclature above or below the gray matter region level, and for other structures, consult Brain Maps 4.0.
• See also the interactive spreadsheet: Brain Maps 4.0 CNS Divisions for a comprehensive overview.
Macroconnection Data Sources
Macroconnection Data Sources
Macroconnection reports included in the data tables were collated from the primary literature. The publications below describe network analyses based on these data.
1. Swanson, L.W., Sporns, O., Hahn, J.D. (2016). Network architecture of the cerebral nuclei (basal ganglia) association and commissural connectome. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 113(40): E5972-E5981. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613184113
2. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2017). Organizing principles for the cerebral cortex network of commissural and association connections. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 114(45): E9692-E9701. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712928114
3. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Jeub, L.G.S., Fortunato, S., Sporns, O. (2018). Subsystem organization of axonal connections within and between the right and left cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei (endbrain). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 115(29): E6910-E6919. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1807255115
4. Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O., Watts, A.G., Swanson, L.W. (2019). Macroscale intrinsic network architecture of the hypothalamus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 116(16): 8018-8027. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819448116
5. Swanson, L.W., Sporns, O., Hahn, J.D. (2019). The network organization of rat intrathalamic macroconnections and a comparison with other forebrain divisions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 116(27): 13661-13669 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905961116
6. Swanson, L.W., Sporns, O., Hahn, J.D. (2019) The network architecture of rat intrinsic interbrain (diencephalon) macroconnections and a comparison with endbrain (telencephalon) architecture. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 116(52): 26991-27000. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915446116
7. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2020) Structure–function subsystem models of female and male forebrain networks integrating cognition, affect, behavior, and bodily functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 117 (49) 31470-31481. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2017733117
8. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2021) Subsystem macroarchitecture of the intrinsic midbrain neural network and its tectal and tegmental Subnetworks. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 118(20) e2101869118. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101869118
9. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2022) Structure-function subsystem model and computational lesions of the central nervous system's rostral sector (forebrain and midbrain). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 119(45) e2210931119. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210931119
10. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2023) Intrinsic circuitry of the rhombicbrain (central nervous system’s intermediate sector) in a mammal. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 120 (52) e2313997120. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313997120
11. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2024) Network architecture of intrinsic connectivity in a mammalian spinal cord (the central nervous system's caudal sector). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 121 (5) e2320953121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320953121
12. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2024) Neural network architecture of a mammalian brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 121(39) e2413422121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2413422121
13. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2025) The intrinsic neuronal network of the central nervous system and its modular (subsystem) architecture in a mammal. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 122(40) e2519768122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2519768122
14. Swanson, L.W., Hahn, J.D., Sporns, O. (2025) Intrinsic neuronal network organization of a mammalian peripheral nervous system. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 122(51) e2528657122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2528657122
Header Image: Illustration adapted from Swanson, Hahn, & Sporns (2017) illustrating part of the subsystem organization of macroconnections between gray matter regions in the cerebral cortex.
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