Cortical gradients of functional integration

A primary challenge for cognitive neuroscience is understanding how the cerebral cortex transforms distinct sources of information into cohesive experiences, and this goal requires knowledge of how functional integration emerges from the cortical structure. I will present recent work describing various features of a principal gradient in cortical connectivity that spans between primary sensory/motor areas and higher-order transmodal association regions. Based on the observation that these systems are also maximally distant from one another along the cortical surface, I will provide an overview of future research investigating a macroscale model of cortical integration. By describing how the spatial layout of the cerebral cortex shapes its functions, this line of research aims to provide a novel framework for understanding the structural constraints that underpin the integrated nature of human cognition.