Functional connectomes (FCs) derived from fMRI are unique to an individual and can be reliably distinguished from those of others. However, the neurobiological basis for this "fingerprint"-like uniqueness remains unclear. One hypothesis holds that FC fingerprinting reflects idiosyncratic conscious experiences, while an alternative suggests that stable, intrinsic brain functional network...
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep constitutes a distinct "third state" of consciousness, during which levels of brain activity are commensurate with wakefulness, but conscious awareness is radically transformed. To characterize the temporal and spatial features of this paradoxical state, we examined functional interactions between brain regions using fMRI resting-state connectivity methods....
The recent discovery of a circuit of brain regions that is highly active in the absence of overt behavior has led to a quest for revealing the possible function of this so-called default-mode network (DMN). A very recent study, finding similarities in awake humans and anesthetized primates, has suggested that DMN activity might not simply reflect ongoing conscious mentation but rather a more...