The lack of temporal brain dynamics asymmetry as a signature of impaired consciousness states
Interface Focus April 14, 2023 Elvira G-Guzmán, Yonatan Sanz Perl, Jakub Vohryzek et al. 34 citations
Living systems must constantly work against equilibrium to survive, a property that can be measured through temporal asymmetry in brain signals. Using statistical physics, researchers analyzed reversibility in functional magnetic resonance imaging data from patients with disorders of consciousness. They found that decreased asymmetry and reduced non-stationarity in brain signals characterize impaired consciousness states, consistent with previous findings in sleep and anesthesia. The work aims to identify biomarkers for patient improvement and classification, and to deepen mechanistic understanding of consciousness disorders.