Abstract
Purpose – Neuroscience data are spread across a variety of sources, typically provisioned through ad-hoc and
non-standard approaches and formats and often have no connection to the related data sources. These make it
difficult for researchers to understand, integrate and reuse brain-related data. The aim of this study is to show
that a graph-based approach offers an effective mean for representing, analysing and accessing brain-related
data, which is highly interconnected, evolving over time and often needed in combination.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors present an approach for organising brain-related data in a
graph model. The approach is exemplified in the case of a unique data set of quantitative neuroanatomical data
about the murine basal ganglia––a group of nuclei in the brain essential for processing information related to
movement. Specifically, the murine basal ganglia data set is modelled as a graph, integrated with relevant data
from third-party repositories, published through a Web-based user interface and API, analysed from
exploratory and confirmatory perspectives using popular graph algorithms to extract new insights.
Findings –The evaluation of the graph model and the results of the graph data analysis and usability study of the
user interface suggest that graph-based data management in the neuroscience domain is a promising approach,
since it enables integration of various disparate data sources and improves understanding and usability of data.
Originality/value – The study provides a practical and generic approach for representing, integrating,
analysing and provisioning brain-related data and a set of software tools to support the proposed approach.
Keywords Graph databases, Neuroscience, Brain-related data, Murine basal ganglia, Data integration, Data
analytics, Data visualisation
Paper type Research paper
non-standard approaches and formats and often have no connection to the related data sources. These make it
difficult for researchers to understand, integrate and reuse brain-related data. The aim of this study is to show
that a graph-based approach offers an effective mean for representing, analysing and accessing brain-related
data, which is highly interconnected, evolving over time and often needed in combination.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors present an approach for organising brain-related data in a
graph model. The approach is exemplified in the case of a unique data set of quantitative neuroanatomical data
about the murine basal ganglia––a group of nuclei in the brain essential for processing information related to
movement. Specifically, the murine basal ganglia data set is modelled as a graph, integrated with relevant data
from third-party repositories, published through a Web-based user interface and API, analysed from
exploratory and confirmatory perspectives using popular graph algorithms to extract new insights.
Findings –The evaluation of the graph model and the results of the graph data analysis and usability study of the
user interface suggest that graph-based data management in the neuroscience domain is a promising approach,
since it enables integration of various disparate data sources and improves understanding and usability of data.
Originality/value – The study provides a practical and generic approach for representing, integrating,
analysing and provisioning brain-related data and a set of software tools to support the proposed approach.
Keywords Graph databases, Neuroscience, Brain-related data, Murine basal ganglia, Data integration, Data
analytics, Data visualisation
Paper type Research paper