Exploring complex and integrated information during sleep.

Summary

Consciousness may hinge on how well information is integrated, as suggested by the Integrated Information Theory. In a study involving 30 participants and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), it was found that the frontoparietal network's complexity remained stable across tasks but began to disintegrate during early sleep stages. Notably, measures of integrated information, represented by φ, decreased significantly as sleep advanced, aligning with the theory's predictions about consciousness loss and its relationship with information integration.

Abstract

The Integrated Information Theory is a theoretical framework that aims to elucidate the nature of consciousness by postulating that it emerges from the integration of information within a system, and that the degree of consciousness depends on the extent of information integration within the system. When consciousness is lost, the core complex of consciousness proposed by the Integrated Information Theory disintegrates, and Φ measures, which reflect the level of integrated information, are expected to diminish. This study examined the predictions of the Integrated Information Theory using the global brain network acquired via functional magnetic resonance imaging during various tasks and sleep. We discovered that the complex located within the frontoparietal network remained constant regardless of task content, while the regional distribution of the complex collapsed in the initial stages of sleep. Furthermore, Φ measures decreased as sleep progressed under limited analysis conditions. These findings align with predictions made by the Integrated Information Theory and support its postulates.

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