RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Novel Intrinsic Ignition Method Measuring Local-Global Integration Characterizes Wakefulness and Deep Sleep
JF eneuro
JO eNeuro
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP ENEURO.0106-17.2017
DO 10.1523/ENEURO.0106-17.2017
VO 4
IS 5
A1 Gustavo Deco
A1 Enzo Tagliazucchi
A1 Helmut Laufs
A1 Ana Sanjuán
A1 Morten L. Kringelbach
YR 2017
UL http://www.eneuro.org/content/4/5/ENEURO.0106-17.2017.abstract
AB A precise definition of a brain state has proven elusive. Here, we introduce the novel local-global concept of intrinsic ignition characterizing the dynamical complexity of different brain states. Naturally occurring intrinsic ignition events reflect the capability of a given brain area to propagate neuronal activity to other regions, giving rise to different levels of integration. The ignitory capability of brain regions is computed by the elicited level of integration for each intrinsic ignition event in each brain region, averaged over all events. This intrinsic ignition method is shown to clearly distinguish human neuroimaging data of two fundamental brain states (wakefulness and deep sleep). Importantly, whole-brain computational modelling of this data shows that at the optimal working point is found where there is maximal variability of the intrinsic ignition across brain regions. Thus, combining whole brain models with intrinsic ignition can provide novel insights into underlying mechanisms of brain states.