1
|
Kim J, Gim S, Yoo SBM, Woo CW. A computational mechanism of cue-stimulus integration for pain in the brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado8230. [PMID: 39259795 PMCID: PMC11389792 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado8230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
The brain integrates information from pain-predictive cues and noxious inputs to construct the pain experience. Although previous studies have identified neural encodings of individual pain components, how they are integrated remains elusive. Here, using a cue-induced pain task, we examined temporal functional magnetic resonance imaging activities within the state space, where axes represent individual voxel activities. By analyzing the features of these activities at the large-scale network level, we demonstrated that overall brain networks preserve both cue and stimulus information in their respective subspaces within the state space. However, only higher-order brain networks, including limbic and default mode networks, could reconstruct the pattern of participants' reported pain by linear summation of subspace activities, providing evidence for the integration of cue and stimulus information. These results suggest a hierarchical organization of the brain for processing pain components and elucidate the mechanism for their integration underlying our pain perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungwoo Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Suhwan Gim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Seng Bum Michael Yoo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery and McNair Scholar Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Life-inspired Neural Network for Prediction and Optimization Research Group, Suwon, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huang Z, Mashour GA, Hudetz AG. Propofol disrupts the functional core-matrix architecture of the thalamus in humans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7496. [PMID: 39251579 PMCID: PMC11384736 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51837-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Research into the role of thalamocortical circuits in anesthesia-induced unconsciousness is difficult due to anatomical and functional complexity. Prior neuroimaging studies have examined either the thalamus as a whole or focused on specific subregions, overlooking the distinct neuronal subtypes like core and matrix cells. We conducted a study of heathy volunteers and functional magnetic resonance imaging during conscious baseline, deep sedation, and recovery. We advanced the functional gradient mapping technique to delineate the functional geometry of thalamocortical circuits, within a framework of the unimodal-transmodal functional axis of the cortex. Here we show a significant shift in this geometry during deep sedation, marked by a transmodal-deficient geometry. This alteration is closely linked to the spatial variations in the matrix cell composition within the thalamus. This research bridges cellular and systems-level understanding, highlighting the crucial role of thalamic core-matrix functional architecture in understanding the neural mechanisms of states of consciousness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - George A Mashour
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anthony G Hudetz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Luppi AI, Mediano PAM, Rosas FE, Allanson J, Pickard J, Carhart-Harris RL, Williams GB, Craig MM, Finoia P, Owen AM, Naci L, Menon DK, Bor D, Stamatakis EA. A synergistic workspace for human consciousness revealed by Integrated Information Decomposition. eLife 2024; 12:RP88173. [PMID: 39022924 PMCID: PMC11257694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
How is the information-processing architecture of the human brain organised, and how does its organisation support consciousness? Here, we combine network science and a rigorous information-theoretic notion of synergy to delineate a 'synergistic global workspace', comprising gateway regions that gather synergistic information from specialised modules across the human brain. This information is then integrated within the workspace and widely distributed via broadcaster regions. Through functional MRI analysis, we show that gateway regions of the synergistic workspace correspond to the human brain's default mode network, whereas broadcasters coincide with the executive control network. We find that loss of consciousness due to general anaesthesia or disorders of consciousness corresponds to diminished ability of the synergistic workspace to integrate information, which is restored upon recovery. Thus, loss of consciousness coincides with a breakdown of information integration within the synergistic workspace of the human brain. This work contributes to conceptual and empirical reconciliation between two prominent scientific theories of consciousness, the Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory, while also advancing our understanding of how the human brain supports consciousness through the synergistic integration of information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- University Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Pedro AM Mediano
- Department of Psychology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Center for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Science, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Center for Complexity Science, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Judith Allanson
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Department of Neurosciences, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Addenbrooke's HospitalCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - John Pickard
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Division of Neurosurgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's HospitalCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Center for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Science, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Psychedelics Division - Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Guy B Williams
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Michael M Craig
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- University Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Paola Finoia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Adrian M Owen
- Department of Psychology and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western OntarioLondonCanada
| | - Lorina Naci
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Lloyd Building, Trinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - David K Menon
- University Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Daniel Bor
- Department of Psychology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- University Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Luppi AI, Rosas FE, Mediano PAM, Demertzi A, Menon DK, Stamatakis EA. Unravelling consciousness and brain function through the lens of time, space, and information. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:551-568. [PMID: 38824075 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Disentangling how cognitive functions emerge from the interplay of brain dynamics and network architecture is among the major challenges that neuroscientists face. Pharmacological and pathological perturbations of consciousness provide a lens to investigate these complex challenges. Here, we review how recent advances about consciousness and the brain's functional organisation have been driven by a common denominator: decomposing brain function into fundamental constituents of time, space, and information. Whereas unconsciousness increases structure-function coupling across scales, psychedelics may decouple brain function from structure. Convergent effects also emerge: anaesthetics, psychedelics, and disorders of consciousness can exhibit similar reconfigurations of the brain's unimodal-transmodal functional axis. Decomposition approaches reveal the potential to translate discoveries across species, with computational modelling providing a path towards mechanistic integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; St John's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Center for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Center for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Center for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Athena Demertzi
- Physiology of Cognition Lab, GIGA-Cyclotron Research Center In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium; Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium; National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS), Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - David K Menon
- Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Páleník J. What does it mean for consciousness to be multidimensional? A narrative review. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1430262. [PMID: 38966739 PMCID: PMC11222411 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1430262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A recent development in the psychological and neuroscientific study of consciousness has been the tendency to conceptualize consciousness as a multidimensional phenomenon. This narrative review elucidates the notion of dimensionality of consciousness and outlines the key concepts and disagreements on this topic through the viewpoints of several theoretical proposals. The reviewed literature is critically evaluated, and the main issues to be resolved by future theoretical and empirical work are identified: the problems of dimension selection and dimension aggregation, as well as some ethical considerations. This narrative review is seemingly the first to comprehensively overview this specific aspect of consciousness science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Páleník
- First Department of Neurology, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Soleimani N, Iraji A, van Erp TGM, Belger A, Calhoun VD. A method for estimating dynamic functional network connectivity gradients (dFNG) from ICA captures smooth inter-network modulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583731. [PMID: 38559041 PMCID: PMC10979844 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analysis is a widely used approach for studying brain function and offering insight into how brain networks evolve over time. Typically, dFNC studies utilized fixed spatial maps and evaluate transient changes in coupling among time courses estimated from independent component analysis (ICA). This manuscript presents a complementary approach that relaxes this assumption by spatially reordering the components dynamically at each timepoint to optimize for a smooth gradient in the FNC (i.e., a smooth gradient among ICA connectivity values). Several methods are presented to summarize dynamic FNC gradients (dFNGs) over time, starting with static FNC gradients (sFNGs), then exploring the reordering properties as well as the dynamics of the gradients themselves. We then apply this approach to a dataset of schizophrenia (SZ) patients and healthy controls (HC). Functional dysconnectivity between different brain regions has been reported in schizophrenia, yet the neural mechanisms behind it remain elusive. Using resting state fMRI and ICA on a dataset consisting of 151 schizophrenia patients and 160 age and gender-matched healthy controls, we extracted 53 intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) for each subject using a fully automated spatially constrained ICA approach. We develop several summaries of our functional network connectivity gradient analysis, both in a static sense, computed as the Pearson correlation coefficient between full time series, and a dynamic sense, computed using a sliding window approach followed by reordering based on the computed gradient, and evaluate group differences. Static connectivity analysis revealed significantly stronger connectivity between subcortical (SC), auditory (AUD) and visual (VIS) networks in patients, as well as hypoconnectivity in sensorimotor (SM) network relative to controls. sFNG analysis highlighted distinctive clustering patterns in patients and HCs along cognitive control (CC)/ default mode network (DMN), as well as SC/ AUD/ SM/ cerebellar (CB), and VIS gradients. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in the sFNGs between groups in SC and CB domains. dFNG analysis suggested that SZ patients spend significantly more time in a SC/ CB state based on the first gradient, while HCs favor the SM/DMN state. For the second gradient, however, patients exhibited significantly higher activity in CB domains, contrasting with HCs' DMN engagement. The gradient synchrony analysis conveyed more shifts between SM/ SC networks and transmodal CC/ DMN networks in patients. In addition, the dFNG coupling revealed distinct connectivity patterns between SC, SM and CB domains in SZ patients compared to HCs. To recap, our results advance our understanding of brain network modulation by examining smooth connectivity trajectories. This provides a more complete spatiotemporal summary of the data, contributing to the growing body of current literature regarding the functional dysconnectivity in schizophrenia patients. By employing dFNG, we highlight a new perspective to capture large scale fluctuations across the brain while maintaining the convenience of brain networks and low dimensional summary measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Najme Soleimani
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Armin Iraji
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Theo G M van Erp
- Clinical Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, UC Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Aysenil Belger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Thum JA, Malekmohammadi M, Toker D, Sparks H, Alijanpourotaghsara A, Choi JW, Hudson AE, Monti MM, Pouratian N. Globus pallidus externus drives increase in network-wide alpha power with propofol-induced loss-of-consciousness in humans. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae243. [PMID: 38850214 PMCID: PMC11161864 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
States of consciousness are likely mediated by multiple parallel yet interacting cortico-subcortical recurrent networks. Although the mesocircuit model has implicated the pallidocortical circuit as one such network, this circuit has not been extensively evaluated to identify network-level electrophysiological changes related to loss of consciousness (LOC). We characterize changes in the mesocircuit in awake versus propofol-induced LOC in humans by directly simultaneously recording from sensorimotor cortices (S1/M1) and globus pallidus interna and externa (GPi/GPe) in 12 patients with Parkinson disease undergoing deep brain stimulator implantation. Propofol-induced LOC is associated with increases in local power up to 20 Hz in GPi, 35 Hz in GPe, and 100 Hz in S1/M1. LOC is likewise marked by increased pallidocortical alpha synchrony across all nodes, with increased alpha/low beta Granger causal (GC) flow from GPe to all other nodes. In contrast, LOC is associated with decreased network-wide beta coupling and beta GC from M1 to the rest of the network. Results implicate an important and possibly central role of GPe in mediating LOC-related increases in alpha power, supporting a significant role of the GPe in modulating cortico-subcortical circuits for consciousness. Simultaneous LOC-related suppression of beta synchrony highlights that distinct oscillatory frequencies act independently, conveying unique network activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine A Thum
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Stein Plaza, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Mahsa Malekmohammadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Stein Plaza, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Daniel Toker
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 6522 Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Hiro Sparks
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Stein Plaza, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Amirreza Alijanpourotaghsara
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd MC8855, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Jeong Woo Choi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd MC8855, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Andrew E Hudson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Los Angeles, 747 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Martin M Monti
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Stein Plaza, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 6522 Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Nader Pouratian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd MC8855, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mashour GA, Lee U, Pal D, Li D. Consciousness and the Dying Brain. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:1221-1231. [PMID: 38603803 PMCID: PMC11096058 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The near-death experience has been reported since antiquity and is often characterized by the perception of light, interactions with other entities, and life recall. Near-death experiences can occur in a variety of situations, but they have been studied systematically after in-hospital cardiac arrest, with an incidence of 10 to 20%. Long attributed to metaphysical or supernatural causes, there have been recent advances in understanding the neurophysiologic basis of this unique category of conscious experience. This article reviews the epidemiology and neurobiology of near-death experiences, with a focus on clinical and laboratory evidence for a surge of neurophysiologic gamma oscillations and cortical connectivity after cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George A. Mashour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - UnCheol Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dinesh Pal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science and Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Duan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mashour GA. Anesthesia and the neurobiology of consciousness. Neuron 2024; 112:1553-1567. [PMID: 38579714 PMCID: PMC11098701 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
In the 19th century, the discovery of general anesthesia revolutionized medical care. In the 21st century, anesthetics have become indispensable tools to study consciousness. Here, I review key aspects of the relationship between anesthesia and the neurobiology of consciousness, including interfaces of sleep and anesthetic mechanisms, anesthesia and primary sensory processing, the effects of anesthetics on large-scale functional brain networks, and mechanisms of arousal from anesthesia. I discuss the implications of the data derived from the anesthetized state for the science of consciousness and then conclude with outstanding questions, reflections, and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George A Mashour
- Center for Consciousness Science, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jang H, Mashour GA, Hudetz AG, Huang Z. Measuring the dynamic balance of integration and segregation underlying consciousness, anesthesia, and sleep. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589265. [PMID: 38659759 PMCID: PMC11042232 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Consciousness requires a dynamic balance of integration and segregation in functional brain networks. An optimal integration-segregation balance depends on two key aspects of functional connectivity: global efficiency (i.e., integration) and clustering (i.e., segregation). We developed a new fMRI-based measure, termed the integration-segregation difference (ISD), which captures both aspects. We used this metric to quantify changes in brain state from conscious wakefulness to loss of responsiveness induced by the anesthetic propofol. The observed changes in ISD suggest a profound shift to segregation in both whole brain and all brain subnetworks during anesthesia. Moreover, brain networks displayed similar sequences of disintegration and subsequent reintegration during, respectively, loss and return of responsiveness. Random forest machine learning models, trained with the integration and segregation of brain networks, identified the awake vs. unresponsive states and their transitions with accuracy up to 93%. We found that metastability (i.e., the dynamic recurrence of non-equilibrium transient states) is more effectively explained by integration, while complexity (i.e., diversity and intricacy of neural activity) is more closely linked with segregation. The analysis of a sleep dataset revealed similar findings. Our results demonstrate that the integration-segregation balance is a useful index that can differentiate among various conscious and unconscious states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunwoo Jang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - George A. Mashour
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anthony G. Hudetz
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Zirui Huang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Luppi AI, Uhrig L, Tasserie J, Signorelli CM, Stamatakis EA, Destexhe A, Jarraya B, Cofre R. Local orchestration of distributed functional patterns supporting loss and restoration of consciousness in the primate brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2171. [PMID: 38462641 PMCID: PMC10925605 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A central challenge of neuroscience is to elucidate how brain function supports consciousness. Here, we combine the specificity of focal deep brain stimulation with fMRI coverage of the entire cortex, in awake and anaesthetised non-human primates. During propofol, sevoflurane, or ketamine anaesthesia, and subsequent restoration of responsiveness by electrical stimulation of the central thalamus, we investigate how loss of consciousness impacts distributed patterns of structure-function organisation across scales. We report that distributed brain activity under anaesthesia is increasingly constrained by brain structure across scales, coinciding with anaesthetic-induced collapse of multiple dimensions of hierarchical cortical organisation. These distributed signatures are observed across different anaesthetics, and they are reversed by electrical stimulation of the central thalamus, coinciding with recovery of behavioural markers of arousal. No such effects were observed upon stimulating the ventral lateral thalamus, demonstrating specificity. Overall, we identify consistent distributed signatures of consciousness that are orchestrated by specific thalamic nuclei.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Division of Anaesthesia and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Lynn Uhrig
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Necker Hospital, AP-HP, Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jordy Tasserie
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camilo M Signorelli
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, 7 Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QG, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- Division of Anaesthesia and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alain Destexhe
- Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroPSI), Paris-Saclay University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Bechir Jarraya
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Department of Neurology, Hopital Foch, 92150, Suresnes, France
| | - Rodrigo Cofre
- Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroPSI), Paris-Saclay University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Martino M, Magioncalda P. A three-dimensional model of neural activity and phenomenal-behavioral patterns. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:639-652. [PMID: 38114633 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02356-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
How phenomenal experience and behavior are related to neural activity in physiology and psychopathology represents a fundamental question in neuroscience and psychiatry. The phenomenal-behavior patterns may be deconstructed into basic dimensions, i.e., psychomotricity, affectivity, and thought, which might have distinct neural correlates. This work provides a data overview on the relationship of these phenomenal-behavioral dimensions with brain activity across physiological and pathological conditions (including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, addictive disorders, Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, and frontotemporal dementia). Accordingly, we propose a three-dimensional model of neural activity and phenomenal-behavioral patterns. In this model, neural activity is organized into distinct units in accordance with connectivity patterns and related input/output processing, manifesting in the different phenomenal-behavioral dimensions. (1) An external neural unit, which involves the sensorimotor circuit/brain's sensorimotor network and is connected with the external environment, processes external inputs/outputs, manifesting in the psychomotor dimension (processing of exteroception/somatomotor activity). External unit hyperactivity manifests in psychomotor excitation (hyperactivity/hyperkinesia/catatonia), while external unit hypoactivity manifests in psychomotor inhibition (retardation/hypokinesia/catatonia). (2) An internal neural unit, which involves the interoceptive-autonomic circuit/brain's salience network and is connected with the internal/body environment, processes internal inputs/outputs, manifesting in the affective dimension (processing of interoception/autonomic activity). Internal unit hyperactivity manifests in affective excitation (anxiety/dysphoria-euphoria/panic), while internal unit hypoactivity manifests in affective inhibition (anhedonia/apathy/depersonalization). (3) An associative neural unit, which involves the brain's associative areas/default-mode network and is connected with the external/internal units (but not with the environment), processes associative inputs/outputs, manifesting in the thought dimension (processing of ideas). Associative unit hyperactivity manifests in thought excitation (mind-wandering/repetitive thinking/psychosis), while associative unit hypoactivity manifests in thought inhibition (inattention/cognitive deficit/consciousness loss). Finally, these neural units interplay and dynamically combine into various neural states, resulting in the complex phenomenal experience and behavior across physiology and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Martino
- Graduate Institute of Mind Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Paola Magioncalda
- Graduate Institute of Mind Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fang Z, Dang Y, Ling Z, Han Y, Zhao H, Xu X, Zhang M. The involvement of the human prefrontal cortex in the emergence of visual awareness. eLife 2024; 12:RP89076. [PMID: 38265851 PMCID: PMC10945701 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Exploring the neural mechanisms of awareness is a fundamental task of cognitive neuroscience. There is an ongoing dispute regarding the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the emergence of awareness, which is partially raised by the confound between report- and awareness-related activity. To address this problem, we designed a visual awareness task that can minimize report-related motor confounding. Our results show that saccadic latency is significantly shorter in the aware trials than in the unaware trials. Local field potential (LFP) data from six patients consistently show early (200-300ms) awareness-related activity in the PFC, including event-related potential and high-gamma activity. Moreover, the awareness state can be reliably decoded by the neural activity in the PFC since the early stage, and the neural pattern is dynamically changed rather than being stable during the representation of awareness. Furthermore, the enhancement of dynamic functional connectivity, through the phase modulation at low frequency, between the PFC and other brain regions in the early stage of the awareness trials may explain the mechanism of conscious access. These results indicate that the PFC is critically involved in the emergence of awareness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zepeng Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Division of Psychology, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yuanyuan Dang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zhipei Ling
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yongzheng Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Hulin Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Mingsha Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Division of Psychology, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Huang Z, Mashour GA, Hudetz AG. Propofol Disrupts the Functional Core-Matrix Architecture of the Thalamus in Humans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.23.576934. [PMID: 38328136 PMCID: PMC10849566 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Research into the role of thalamocortical circuits in anesthesia-induced unconsciousness is difficult due to anatomical and functional complexity. Prior neuroimaging studies have examined either the thalamus as a whole or focused on specific subregions, overlooking the distinct neuronal subtypes like core and matrix cells. We conducted a study of heathy volunteers and functional magnetic resonance imaging during conscious baseline, deep sedation, and recovery. We advanced the functional gradient mapping technique to delineate the functional geometry of thalamocortical circuits, within a framework of the unimodal-transmodal functional axis of the cortex. We observed a significant shift in this geometry during unconsciousness, marked by the dominance of unimodal over transmodal geometry. This alteration was closely linked to the spatial variations in the density of matrix cells within the thalamus. This research bridges cellular and systems-level understanding, highlighting the crucial role of thalamic core-matrix functional architecture in understanding the neural mechanisms of states of consciousness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - George A Mashour
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anthony G Hudetz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Han J, Xie Q, Wu X, Huang Z, Tanabe S, Fogel S, Hudetz AG, Wu H, Northoff G, Mao Y, He S, Qin P. The neural correlates of arousal: Ventral posterolateral nucleus-global transient co-activation. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113633. [PMID: 38159279 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Arousal and awareness are two components of consciousness whose neural mechanisms remain unclear. Spontaneous peaks of global (brain-wide) blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signal have been found to be sensitive to changes in arousal. By contrasting BOLD signals at different arousal levels, we find decreased activation of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) during transient peaks in the global signal in low arousal and awareness states (non-rapid eye movement sleep and anesthesia) compared to wakefulness and in eyes-closed compared to eyes-open conditions in healthy awake individuals. Intriguingly, VPL-global co-activation remains high in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), who exhibit high arousal without awareness, while it reduces in rapid eye movement sleep, a state characterized by low arousal but high awareness. Furthermore, lower co-activation is found in individuals during N3 sleep compared to patients with UWS. These results demonstrate that co-activation of VPL and global activity is critical to arousal but not to awareness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junrong Han
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Qiuyou Xie
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong, China; Joint Research Centre for Disorders of Consciousness, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuehai Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sean Tanabe
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stuart Fogel
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony G Hudetz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hang Wu
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Georg Northoff
- Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Mental Health Centre, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Pengmin Qin
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China; Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou 510335, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Xie M, Huang Y, Cai W, Zhang B, Huang H, Li Q, Qin P, Han J. Neurobiological Underpinnings of Hyperarousal in Depression: A Comprehensive Review. Brain Sci 2024; 14:50. [PMID: 38248265 PMCID: PMC10813043 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit an abnormal physiological arousal pattern known as hyperarousal, which may contribute to their depressive symptoms. However, the neurobiological mechanisms linking this abnormal arousal to depressive symptoms are not yet fully understood. In this review, we summarize the physiological and neural features of arousal, and review the literature indicating abnormal arousal in depressed patients. Evidence suggests that a hyperarousal state in depression is characterized by abnormalities in sleep behavior, physiological (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance, pupil diameter) and electroencephalography (EEG) features, and altered activity in subcortical (e.g., hypothalamus and locus coeruleus) and cortical regions. While recent studies highlight the importance of subcortical-cortical interactions in arousal, few have explored the relationship between subcortical-cortical interactions and hyperarousal in depressed patients. This gap limits our understanding of the neural mechanism through which hyperarousal affects depressive symptoms, which involves various cognitive processes and the cerebral cortex. Based on the current literature, we propose that the hyperconnectivity in the thalamocortical circuit may contribute to both the hyperarousal pattern and depressive symptoms. Future research should investigate the relationship between thalamocortical connections and abnormal arousal in depression, and explore its implications for non-invasive treatments for depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Musi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (M.X.); (Y.H.)
| | - Ying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (M.X.); (Y.H.)
| | - Wendan Cai
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (W.C.); (B.Z.); (H.H.)
| | - Bingqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (W.C.); (B.Z.); (H.H.)
| | - Haonan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (W.C.); (B.Z.); (H.H.)
| | - Qingwei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China;
| | - Pengmin Qin
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (M.X.); (Y.H.)
- Pazhou Laboratory, Guangzhou 510330, China
| | - Junrong Han
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; (W.C.); (B.Z.); (H.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dai R, Huang Z, Larkin TE, Tarnal V, Picton P, Vlisides PE, Janke E, McKinney A, Hudetz AG, Harris RE, Mashour GA. Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1284. [PMID: 38114805 PMCID: PMC10730842 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05678-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the longstanding use of nitrous oxide and descriptions of its psychological effects more than a century ago, there is a paucity of neurobiological investigation of associated psychedelic experiences. We measure the brain's functional geometry (through analysis of cortical gradients) and temporal dynamics (through analysis of co-activation patterns) using human resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired before and during administration of 35% nitrous oxide. Both analyses demonstrate that nitrous oxide reduces functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor networks. Importantly, the subjective psychedelic experience induced by nitrous oxide is inversely correlated with the degree of functional differentiation. Thus, like classical psychedelics acting on serotonin receptors, nitrous oxide flattens the functional geometry of the cortex and disrupts temporal dynamics in association with psychoactive effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Tony E Larkin
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Vijay Tarnal
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Paul Picton
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Phillip E Vlisides
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Ellen Janke
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Amy McKinney
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anthony G Hudetz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Richard E Harris
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - George A Mashour
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Klar P, Çatal Y, Fogel S, Jocham G, Langner R, Owen AM, Northoff G. Auditory inputs modulate intrinsic neuronal timescales during sleep. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1180. [PMID: 37985812 PMCID: PMC10661171 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have demonstrated that intrinsic neuronal timescales (INT) undergo modulation by external stimulation during consciousness. It remains unclear if INT keep the ability for significant stimulus-induced modulation during primary unconscious states, such as sleep. This fMRI analysis addresses this question via a dataset that comprises an awake resting-state plus rest and stimulus states during sleep. We analyzed INT measured via temporal autocorrelation supported by median frequency (MF) in the frequency-domain. Our results were replicated using a biophysical model. There were two main findings: (1) INT prolonged while MF decreased from the awake resting-state to the N2 resting-state, and (2) INT shortened while MF increased during the auditory stimulus in sleep. The biophysical model supported these results by demonstrating prolonged INT in slowed neuronal populations that simulate the sleep resting-state compared to an awake state. Conversely, under sine wave input simulating the stimulus state during sleep, the model's regions yielded shortened INT that returned to the awake resting-state level. Our results highlight that INT preserve reactivity to stimuli in states of unconsciousness like sleep, enhancing our understanding of unconscious brain dynamics and their reactivity to stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Klar
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Yasir Çatal
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research & University of Ottawa, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 145 Carling Avenue, Room 6435, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
| | - Stuart Fogel
- Sleep Unit, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal, K1Z 7K4, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Gerhard Jocham
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Adrian M Owen
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology and Psychology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Georg Northoff
- The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research & University of Ottawa, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 145 Carling Avenue, Room 6435, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Tianmu Road 305, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310013, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhu J, Margulies D, Qiu A. White matter functional gradients and their formation in adolescence. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10770-10783. [PMID: 37727985 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a widely used tool for studying brain activity. Recent research has shown that fluctuations in fMRI data can reflect functionally meaningful patterns of brain activity within the white matter. We leveraged resting-state fMRI from an adolescent population to characterize large-scale white matter functional gradients and their formation during adolescence. The white matter showed gray-matter-like unimodal-to-transmodal and sensorimotor-to-visual gradients with specific cognitive associations and a unique superficial-to-deep gradient with nonspecific cognitive associations. We propose two mechanisms for their formation in adolescence. One is a "function-molded" mechanism that may mediate the maturation of the transmodal white matter via the transmodal gray matter. The other is a "structure-root" mechanism that may support the mutual mediation roles of the unimodal and transmodal white matter maturation during adolescence. Thus, the spatial layout of the white matter functional gradients is in concert with the gray matter functional organization. The formation of the white matter functional gradients may be driven by brain anatomical wiring and functional needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Daniel Margulies
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Université de Paris, 45 Rue des Saint-Pères, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Anqi Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore
- NUS (Suzhou) Research Institute, National University of Singapore, No. 377 Linquan Street, Suzhou 215000, China
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Dr, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Institute of Data Science, National University of Singapore, 3 Research Link, #04-06, Singapore 117602, Singapore
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Krause BM, Campbell DI, Kovach CK, Mueller RN, Kawasaki H, Nourski KV, Banks MI. Analogous cortical reorganization accompanies entry into states of reduced consciousness during anesthesia and sleep. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9850-9866. [PMID: 37434363 PMCID: PMC10472497 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Theories of consciousness suggest that brain mechanisms underlying transitions into and out of unconsciousness are conserved no matter the context or precipitating conditions. We compared signatures of these mechanisms using intracranial electroencephalography in neurosurgical patients during propofol anesthesia and overnight sleep and found strikingly similar reorganization of human cortical networks. We computed the "effective dimensionality" of the normalized resting state functional connectivity matrix to quantify network complexity. Effective dimensionality decreased during stages of reduced consciousness (anesthesia unresponsiveness, N2 and N3 sleep). These changes were not region-specific, suggesting global network reorganization. When connectivity data were embedded into a low-dimensional space in which proximity represents functional similarity, we observed greater distances between brain regions during stages of reduced consciousness, and individual recording sites became closer to their nearest neighbors. These changes corresponded to decreased differentiation and functional integration and correlated with decreases in effective dimensionality. This network reorganization constitutes a neural signature of states of reduced consciousness that is common to anesthesia and sleep. These results establish a framework for understanding the neural correlates of consciousness and for practical evaluation of loss and recovery of consciousness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M Krause
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Declan I Campbell
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christopher K Kovach
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Rashmi N Mueller
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Department of Anesthesia, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Hiroto Kawasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Kirill V Nourski
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Matthew I Banks
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Banks MI, Krause BM, Berger DG, Campbell DI, Boes AD, Bruss JE, Kovach CK, Kawasaki H, Steinschneider M, Nourski KV. Functional geometry of auditory cortical resting state networks derived from intracranial electrophysiology. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002239. [PMID: 37651504 PMCID: PMC10499207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding central auditory processing critically depends on defining underlying auditory cortical networks and their relationship to the rest of the brain. We addressed these questions using resting state functional connectivity derived from human intracranial electroencephalography. Mapping recording sites into a low-dimensional space where proximity represents functional similarity revealed a hierarchical organization. At a fine scale, a group of auditory cortical regions excluded several higher-order auditory areas and segregated maximally from the prefrontal cortex. On mesoscale, the proximity of limbic structures to the auditory cortex suggested a limbic stream that parallels the classically described ventral and dorsal auditory processing streams. Identities of global hubs in anterior temporal and cingulate cortex depended on frequency band, consistent with diverse roles in semantic and cognitive processing. On a macroscale, observed hemispheric asymmetries were not specific for speech and language networks. This approach can be applied to multivariate brain data with respect to development, behavior, and disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew I. Banks
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Bryan M. Krause
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - D. Graham Berger
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Declan I. Campbell
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Aaron D. Boes
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Joel E. Bruss
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Christopher K. Kovach
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Hiroto Kawasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Mitchell Steinschneider
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kirill V. Nourski
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Huang Z. Temporospatial Nestedness in Consciousness: An Updated Perspective on the Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1074. [PMID: 37510023 PMCID: PMC10378228 DOI: 10.3390/e25071074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Time and space are fundamental elements that permeate the fabric of nature, and their significance in relation to neural activity and consciousness remains a compelling yet unexplored area of research. The Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) provides a framework that links time, space, neural activity, and consciousness, shedding light on the intricate relationships among these dimensions. In this review, I revisit the fundamental concepts and mechanisms proposed by the TTC, with a particular focus on the central concept of temporospatial nestedness. I propose an extension of temporospatial nestedness by incorporating the nested relationship between the temporal circuit and functional geometry of the brain. To further unravel the complexities of temporospatial nestedness, future research directions should emphasize the characterization of functional geometry and the temporal circuit across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Investigating the links between these scales will yield a more comprehensive understanding of how spatial organization and temporal dynamics contribute to conscious states. This integrative approach holds the potential to uncover novel insights into the neural basis of consciousness and reshape our understanding of the world-brain dynamic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|