BrainRing: An Interactive Web-Based Tool for Brain Connectivity Chord Diagram Visualization

Researchers Xiao Fan and Yi Zhang have introduced BrainRing, a groundbreaking web-based tool that democratizes brain connectivity visualization. Published on arXiv, this free, open-source solution eliminates the traditional barriers of complex configuration files and proprietary software environments like Circos or BrainNet Viewer. BrainRing operates entirely in the browser—users simply open a single HTML file with no installation, backend server, or programming knowledge required. The tool supports eight widely-used brain atlases including Brainnetome 246, AAL-90/116, Schaefer 100/200/400, Power 264, and Dosenbach 160, making it immediately applicable across neuroscience research domains.

BrainRing's interactive interface enables real-time parameter adjustment and comprehensive edge management through features like click-to-connect functionality and per-edge color customization. Researchers can import existing Circos link files and work in either Chinese or English interfaces. The most significant advancement is the ability to generate publication-quality SVG and PNG figures with full visual styling control within seconds—a dramatic improvement over the minutes-to-hours workflow typically associated with script-based approaches. This represents a major efficiency gain for neuroscience visualization, allowing researchers to focus on analysis rather than technical implementation.

The tool's architecture as a self-contained HTML file means it can be used offline and shared effortlessly between collaborators. By removing the technical barriers to creating sophisticated chord diagrams of brain connectivity patterns, BrainRing accelerates the research-to-publication pipeline. The live demo and open-source availability ensure immediate accessibility for the global neuroscience community, potentially standardizing visualization methods across institutions and research groups.