Recent advances in brain connectivity research suggest that human brain operates as a complex but economic global network. Novel approaches from graph theory have been applied to a variety of neuroimaging studies and have achieved great success. However, the brain network architecture and plasticity patterns vary in different brain developmental periods, learning activities, and disease effects. More knowledge and deeper understanding of brain operations will depend on further investigations in the brain networks under different conditions. Thus, this special issue will take the chance to invite investigators to contribute original research as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts in understanding the architecture and plasticity patterns of the brain networks in cases of (1) any period in the whole spectrum of normal brain development and aging, (2) psychiatric and neurological diseases, and (3) learning effects. Neuroimaging studies using structural MRI, diffusion MRI, and functional MRI techniques are related.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Developments of novel analytic techniques for characterizing brain networks
• Identifications of network plasticity patterns associated with normal brain development, aging, diseases, and learning experiences
• Longitudinal investigations in brain network dynamics
• Explorations of systems-level risk markers of neurological and psychiatric disorders