Propagation Mapping: A Precision Framework for Reconstructing the Neural Circuitry of Brain Maps

Human brain mapping has traditionally relied on univariate approaches to characterize regional activity, an assumption that is increasingly being challenged. While functional connectivity offers a promising alternative, it fails to capture signal amplitude, which is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the brain biological organization. The current study introduced and validated propagation mapping, a novel framework designed to reconstruct the neural circuitry underlying human brain maps. By modeling the interdependence of regional signal amplitude and connectivity, the spatial organization of brain maps could be predicted with near-perfect accuracy. This precision remained stable across task contrasts, parcellation atlases, and both short- and long-range connections. Critically, propagation mapping preserved each individual functional fingerprint, enabling reliable study of inter-individual differences in brain behavior relationships. As a biologically informed and accessible representation of brain organization, propagation mapping provides a powerful alternative to traditional regional analyses and opens new avenues for discovery in neurological and psychiatric neuroimaging research.