Alterations in rat brain modular organization during unconsciousness are dependent on communication efficiency and metabolic cost.
Brain structure & function December 1, 2023 Siyang Li, Yali Chen, Peng Ren et al.
Spontaneous brain activity is organized into modules that vary across individuals and over time. Using functional MRI and FDG-PET in rats under propofol-induced sedation and anesthesia, the authors observed that modular variability increased during loss of consciousness. Across individuals, modular variability was oppositely associated with functional connectivity strength and cerebral metabolism; with deeper anesthesia, it became increasingly dependent on basal metabolism rather than connectivity. The results suggest that propofol-induced unconsciousness leads to brain modular reorganization, shaped by a trade-off between energetic resources and communication efficiency.