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Dynamic Reconfiguration of Human Brain Networks Across Altered States of Consciousness.

Haiyang Liu, Ke-Hui Hu, Yingjie Peng, Xiaohan Tian, Meng Wang, Bo Ma, Youxuan Wu, Wanchen Sun, Bing Liu, A. Li, Ruquan Han

Behavioural Brain Research November 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113685 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 21
Population Healthy subjects
Intervention Dexmedetomidine
Topics Altered states of consciousness
Key findings Sedation is characterized by increased switching rates and decreased integration in brain functional networks, which largely reverse upon recovery of consciousness.

Abstract

Consciousness is supported by rich neuronal dynamics to orchestrate behaviors and conscious processing can be disrupted by general anesthetics. Previous studies suggested that dynamic reconfiguration of large-scale functional network is critical for learning and higher-order cognitive function. During altered states of consciousness, how brain functional networks are dynamically changed and reconfigured at the whole-brain level is still unclear. To fill this gap, using multilayer network approach and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of 21 healthy subjects, we investigated the dynamic network reconfiguration in three different states of consciousness: wakefulness, dexmedetomidine-induced sedation, and recovery. Applying time-varying community detection algorithm, we constructed multilayer modularity networks to track and quantify dynamic interactions among brain areas that span time and space. We compared four high-level network features (i.e., switching, promiscuity, integration, and recruitment) derived from multilayer modularity across the three conditions. We found that sedation state is primarily characterized by increased switching rates as well as decreased integration, representing a whole-brain pattern with higher modular dynamics and more fragmented communication; such alteration can be mostly reversed after the recovery of consciousness. Thus, our work can provide additional insights to understand the modular network reconfiguration across different states of consciousness and may provide some clinical implications for disorders of consciousness.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG. 6 female, 7 male human participants 2019 Observational cohort n = 13
Measures of entropy and complexity in altered states of consciousness Subjects during resting wakefulness, different sleep stages, and epileptic seizures 2017 Observational study
Altered States of Consciousness and Short-Term Psychological After-Effects Induced by the First Time Ritual Use of Ayahuasca in an Urban Context in Brazil First-time ayahuasca users in Santo Daime and União do Vegetal rituals 2005 Observational cohort n = 28
Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning Healthy individuals during sleep, individuals under general anesthesia, and patients... 2022 Observational cohort n = 71
Subanaesthetic ketamine and altered states of consciousness in humans Human volunteers 2018 Observational study n = 15

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Altered states of consciousness Philosophy of mind