A thalamocortical substrate for integrated information via critical synchronous bursting.
Brandon R Munn, Eli J Müller, Jaan Aru, Christopher J. Whyte, Albert Gidon, Matthew E Larkum, James M Shine
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America November 14, 2023 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308670120 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIntegrated information, a proposed signature of consciousness, is maximized in a biophysical network model when the nonspecific thalamus drives thick-tufted layer 5 pyramidal neurons into a regime of time-varying synchronous bursting. In this regime, variable spiking dynamics with broad pairwise correlations support enhanced integrated information. The peak in integrated information coincides with criticality signatures and empirically observed layer 5 pyramidal bursting rates. These findings suggest that the thalamocortical core of the mammalian brain may be evolutionarily configured to optimize effective information processing, offering a potential neuronal mechanism linking microscale theories to macroscale signatures of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Computational modeling study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Biophysical network Dendrites Integrated information Nonspecific thalamus Synchronous bursting |
| Key finding | Integrated information is maximized when nonspecific thalamic inputs drive a biophysical network of dual-compartment thick-tufted layer 5 pyramidal neurons into a regime of time-varying synchronous bursting. |
Abstract
Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying consciousness remains a significant challenge. Recent evidence suggests that the coupling between distal-apical and basal-somatic dendrites in thick-tufted layer 5 pyramidal neurons (L5PN), regulated by the nonspecific-projecting thalamus, is crucial for consciousness. Yet, it is uncertain whether this thalamocortical mechanism can support emergent signatures of consciousness, such as integrated information. To address this question, we constructed a biophysical network of dual-compartment thick-tufted L5PN, with dendrosomatic coupling controlled by thalamic inputs. Our findings demonstrate that integrated information is maximized when nonspecific thalamic inputs drive the system into a regime of time-varying synchronous bursting. Here, the system exhibits variable spiking dynamics with broad pairwise correlations, supporting the enhanced integrated information. Further, the observed peak in integrated information aligns with criticality signatures and empirically observed layer 5 pyramidal bursting rates. These results suggest that the thalamocortical core of the mammalian brain may be evolutionarily configured to optimize effective information processing, providing a potential neuronal mechanism that integrates microscale theories with macroscale signatures of consciousness.