Brain dynamics change in distinct ways across levels of consciousness—awake, light sedation, deep sedation, and recovery—as measured by fMRI. Using linear time-invariant dynamical systems with unknown inputs, the authors show that the stability and frequency of the brain's oscillatory modes shift during transitions between consciousness states. The same models identify external drivers that influence large-scale brain activity during naturalistic auditory stimulation, and these drivers differ across consciousness states. The approach captures brain-wide dynamic changes not amenable to conventional analysis, suggesting potential biomarkers for consciousness recovery in disorders of consciousness.
The brain's large-scale dynamics change in distinct ways as people move between wakefulness, light sedation, deep sedation, and recovery. Using a model that treats the brain as a linear time-invariant system with unknown inputs, the authors show that the stability and frequency of oscillatory modes shift across these states. The same model identifies external drivers that shape brain activity during naturalistic auditory stimulation, revealing how stimulus-induced co-activity propagation differs across consciousness levels. The approach captures brain-wide changes that conventional methods miss, and these findings may help develop better biomarkers for consciousness recovery in disorders of consciousness.