S Laureys

2 papers in the library · publishing 2018-2023

Papers

Method for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology.

Journal of neuroscience methods October 1, 2023 S Assadzadeh, J Annen, L Sanz et al.

A method using corticothalamic neural field theory (NFT) fits to EEG spectra can distinguish conscious from unconscious states in healthy and brain-injured subjects. Healthy subjects in wake and REM sleep, those in deep sleep, and brain-injured patients (unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state, emerged from MCS) cluster into three groups based on two parameters: the difference between corticocortical and corticothalamic feedbacks (X-Y) and mean neural response rates (α and β). X-Y is smaller in conscious states (wake/REM) than in sleep but does not differentiate among brain injuries. The method can be automated on a personal computer, unlike laborious clinical assessments or measures like Φ from integrated information theory.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109958 Full text Arousal state Classification Consciousness Electroencephalography +1

Ultra-slow mechanical stimulation of olfactory epithelium modulates consciousness by slowing cerebral rhythms in humans.

Scientific Reports April 26, 2018 A Piarulli, A Zaccaro, M Laurino et al.

Periodic odorless air puffs delivered to the olfactory epithelium at 0.05 Hz (8 seconds on, 12 seconds off) in 12 healthy subjects enhanced delta-theta EEG activity across the whole cortex, especially in limbic system and default mode network structures, reversed the direction of information flow from a wake-like posterior-to-anterior pattern to a NREM sleep-like anterior-to-posterior pattern, and produced self-reported altered states of consciousness. The findings suggest a neurophysiological basis for how respiration-based meditative practices may induce altered states of consciousness.

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24924-9 Full text