Noise during rest enables the exploration of the brain's dynamic repertoire.
PLoS Computational Biology October 1, 2008 Anandamohan Ghosh, Y Rho, A R McIntosh et al.
Resting state networks, which are collections of brain regions showing coordinated activity even when no task is being performed, can emerge from a stability analysis of network dynamics using biologically realistic primate brain connectivity. Anatomical information alone does not identify these networks; noise and time delays from signal propagation along connecting fibers are essential for their emergence. The spatiotemporal dynamics operate on multiple time scales, producing both fast neuroelectric oscillations (1–100 Hz) and slow hemodynamic oscillations (<0.1 Hz). The combination of structure and time delays creates a space-time framework where neural noise allows the brain to explore various functional configurations.