Dynamic Reconfiguration of Human Brain Networks Across Altered States of Consciousness.
Behavioural Brain Research November 1, 2021 Haiyang Liu, Ke-Hui Hu, Yingjie Peng et al.
During dexmedetomidine-induced sedation, the brain's functional networks become more fragmented and dynamic, with increased switching rates and decreased integration compared to wakefulness; these changes largely reverse upon recovery of consciousness. The study tracked dynamic network reconfiguration using fMRI data from 21 healthy subjects and multilayer network analysis, comparing wakefulness, sedation, and recovery states. The findings suggest that altered states of consciousness involve a whole-brain pattern of higher modular dynamics and more fragmented communication, offering insights into the neural basis of consciousness and potential clinical relevance for disorders of consciousness.