What Is Lost During Dreamless Sleep: The Relationship Between Neural Connectivity Patterns and Consciousness
Journal of European Psychology Students November 13, 2014 Michaela Klimova
During non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, consciousness is reduced, offering clues about the neural basis of conscious experience. The integrated information theory proposes that interactions among thalamocortical regions are essential for consciousness. This review examines studies of functional connectivity using correlational neuroimaging and effective connectivity via brain stimulation. Most evidence indicates that deep sleep involves a reorganization of brain networks: connectivity between different regions decreases, while connectivity within regions increases, compared to wakefulness.