On wakefulness fluctuations as a source of BOLD functional connectivity dynamics

TY - JOUR

T1 - On wakefulness fluctuations as a source of BOLD functional connectivity dynamics

AU - Haimovici, Ariel

AU - Tagliazucchi, E.

AU - Balenzuela, Pablo

AU - Laufs, Helmut

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Human brain dynamics and functional connectivity fluctuate over a range of temporal scales in coordination with internal states and environmental demands. However, the neurobiological significance and consequences of functional connectivity dynamics during rest have not yet been established. We show that the coarse-grained clustering of whole-brain dynamic connectivity measured with magnetic resonance imaging reveals discrete patterns (dynamic connectivity states) associated with wakefulness and sleep. We validate this using EEG in healthy subjects and patients with narcolepsy and by matching our results with previous findings in a large collaborative database. We also show that drowsiness may account for previous reports of metastable connectivity states associated with different levels of functional integration. This implies that future studies of transient functional connectivity must independently monitor wakefulness. We conclude that a possible neurobiological significance of dynamic connectivity states, computed at a sufficiently coarse temporal scale, is that of fluctuations in wakefulness.

AB - Human brain dynamics and functional connectivity fluctuate over a range of temporal scales in coordination with internal states and environmental demands. However, the neurobiological significance and consequences of functional connectivity dynamics during rest have not yet been established. We show that the coarse-grained clustering of whole-brain dynamic connectivity measured with magnetic resonance imaging reveals discrete patterns (dynamic connectivity states) associated with wakefulness and sleep. We validate this using EEG in healthy subjects and patients with narcolepsy and by matching our results with previous findings in a large collaborative database. We also show that drowsiness may account for previous reports of metastable connectivity states associated with different levels of functional integration. This implies that future studies of transient functional connectivity must independently monitor wakefulness. We conclude that a possible neurobiological significance of dynamic connectivity states, computed at a sufficiently coarse temporal scale, is that of fluctuations in wakefulness.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-017-06389-4

DO - 10.1038/s41598-017-06389-4

M3 - Article

C2 - 28724928

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 7

SP - 5908

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

ER -