Making sense of connectivity studies using a biophysical modelling approach - a systematic review

With the advent of technology, connectivity studies, harnessing a biophysical modelling approach, are becoming prevalent in the literature. Researchers are publishing increasingly sophisticated studies using advanced... [ view full abstract ]

With the advent of technology, connectivity studies, harnessing a biophysical modelling approach, are becoming prevalent in the literature. Researchers are publishing increasingly sophisticated studies using advanced hydrodynamic models coupled with often complex biological behaviour. However, a structured framework that allows for comparisons of results between these biophysical connectivity studies allow for comparisons, is absent. As a result, comparing these studies is complicated. Thus, the purpose of this meta-review was to identify a framework for presenting and reproducing results of these connectivity studies. Our systematic review conducted for all identifiable connectivity studies since 2010 found over 20 different response variables for measuring connectivity. Quantifiable comparisons between these studies proved difficult due to disparate methods of publishing the model parameters and limits the reproducibility of the research. Consequently, a method for presenting results and a core set of response variables that facilitates measured comparisons of connectivity between studies is proposed. Biophysical modelling connectivity studies have moved from a niche modelling technique to an accepted estimation of connectivity and this review provides a framework for the presentation of reproducible & coherent results in order to facilitate comparisons across studies and enable generalisation of research outcomes.