Structure–function relationships across scales: implications for atlases

Neuroscience aims to understand how the structural and functional organization of the brain relates to behavior. Structural studies at the cellular level establish the neurobiological framework for understanding function. Structure is only part of the story however, with molecular and functional information needed for a comprehensive view. At the mesoscopic level, functional regions are defined by ensembles of neurons that work together. This perspective reviews the relationship between structural and functional organization across scales and aims to provide a common language for neuroscientists working at any level. While it is unequivocal that structure constrains function at the cellular level, understanding function at the meso- and macro-scopic scales is much more complicated involving ensembles of neurons and their dynamic interactions. Recognition of these scale differences is essential for advancing representational models in the field.