Information parity on cortical functional brain networks increases under psychedelic influences

The physical basis of consciousness remains an open question. Using complex network theory, the study compared resting-state functional brain networks of individuals before and after ingesting the psychedelic brew Ayahuasca. The researchers calculated pairwise information parity to quantify statistical symmetries between brain region connectivity across the entire network. They detected an increase in average information parity in brain networks under psychedelic influence. Notably, information parity between regions of the limbic system and frontal cortex was consistently higher for all individuals while under the influence.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The physical basis of consciousness is one of the most intriguing open questions that contemporary science aims to solve. By approaching the brain as an interactive information system, complex network theory has greatly contributed to understand brain process in different states of mind. We study an non-ordinary state of mind by comparing resting-state functional brain networks of individuals in two different conditions: before and after the ingestion of the psychedelic brew Ayahuasca. In order to quantify the functional, statistical symmetries between brain region connectivity, we calculate the pairwise information parity of the functional brain networks. Unlike most of usual network quantification, which is done on a local or global scale, information parity quantifies the pairwise statistical similarities considering the entire network structure. We detect an increase in the average information parity on brain networks of individuals under psychedelic influences. Notably, the information parity between regions from the limbic system and frontal cortex is consistently higher for all the individuals while under the psychedelic influence.