Sleep onset is characterized by a departure from arousal, and can be separated into well-differentiated stages: NREM (which encompasses three substages: N1, N2 and N3) and REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Awake brain dynamics are maintained by various wake-promoting mechanisms, particularly the neuromodulators Acetylcholine (ACh) and Noradrenaline (NA), whose levels naturally decrease during the...
The human brain displays a rich repertoire of states that emerge from the microscopic interactions of cortical and subcortical neurons. Difficulties inherent within large-scale simultaneous neuronal recording limit our ability to link biophysical processes at the microscale to emergent macroscopic brain states. Here we introduce a microscale biophysical network model of layer-5 pyramidal...
While consciousness never fades during wakefulness, there is a paradoxical coexistence of consciousness during dreaming states. It’s also possible for sensory awareness to be either present or absent when awakened from seemingly-identical states of sedation and anaesthesia. Traditionally, these states have been characterised in terms of their electroencephalographic neural correlates, however,...
Psychedelics are increasingly explored as tools to investigate consciousness and cognition, and as potential treatments for mood disorders. While neuroimaging has been central to characterizing their mechanisms of action, the interpretation of these studies may be confounded by the neurovascular effects elicited by these drugs. Here, we investigated the modulation of resting state neurovascular...