Illuminating brain's "dark energy": a living lens of spontaneous slow oscillations. reply to comments on 'dark brain energy: toward an integrative model of spontaneous slow oscillations'.
Physics of Life Reviews January 21, 2026 Zhu-Qing Gong, Xi-Nian Zuo 3 citations
Spontaneous slow oscillations (SSOs) across six frequency bands have a three-layer hierarchical structure that links spectral architecture to functional roles and neurocognitive processes. Commentaries from diverse fields highlight five key themes: how SSOs relate to consciousness, their geometric foundations, evolutionary and metabolic mechanisms, mathematical modeling of traveling waves that generate SSOs, and implications for brain-inspired intelligence. Integrating these perspectives refines the original model and points toward future research directions.