Large-scale signatures of unconsciousness are consistent with a departure from critical dynamics

Anaesthesia; Complex systems; Consciousness; FMRI; Phase transitions; Electrophysiology; Functional neuroimaging; Large scale systems; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurophysiology; Anatomical constraint; External perturbations; Functional connectivity; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Spatial and temporal correlation; Brain

Abstract :

[en] Loss of cortical integration and changes in the dynamics of electrophysiological brain signals characterize the transition from wakefulness towards unconsciousness. In this study, we arrive at a basic model explaining these observations based on the theory of phase transitions in complex systems. We studied the link between spatial and temporal correlations of large-scale brain activity recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging during wakefulness, propofol-induced sedation and loss of consciousness and during the subsequent recovery. We observed that during unconsciousness activity in frontothalamic regions exhibited a reduction of long-range temporal correlations and a departure of functional connectivity from anatomical constraints. A model of a system exhibiting a phase transition reproduced our findings, as well as the diminished sensitivity of the cortex to external perturbations during unconsciousness. This framework unifies different observations about brain activity during unconsciousness and predicts that the principles we identified are universal and independent from its causes. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Disciplines :

Anesthesia & intensive care

Author, co-author :

Tagliazucchi, E.; Institute for Medical Psychology, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany, Department of Neurology and Brain Imaging Center, Goethe University Frankfurt Am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Chialvo, D. R.; Comision Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

Siniatchkin, M.; Institute for Medical Psychology, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Amico, Enrico ; Université de Liège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Brichant, Jean-Francois ; Université de Liège - ULiège

BONHOMME, Vincent ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Service médical d'anesthésie - réanimation

Noirhomme, Quentin ; Université de Liège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Laufs, H.; Department of Neurology and Brain Imaging Center, Goethe University Frankfurt Am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Department of Neurology, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège > GIGA : Coma Group

Title :

Large-scale signatures of unconsciousness are consistent with a departure from critical dynamics

Publication date :

2016

Journal title :

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface

ISSN :

1742-5689

eISSN :

1742-5662

Publisher :

Royal Society of London

Volume :

Issue :

114

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 17 June 2016

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95 (4 by ULiège)

Number of downloads

1 (1 by ULiège)

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Scopus citations^®

132

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

105

OpenCitations

135

OpenAlex citations

186

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