How hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness
NeuroImage February 9, 2021 Riku Ihalainen, Olivia Gosseries, Frederik van de Steen et al. 30 citations
Using dynamic causal modelling of high-density EEG recordings from 10 people during propofol anaesthesia, the study evaluated how three resting state networks—the default mode network, the salience network, and the central executive network—contribute to consciousness. Loss of consciousness reduced inter-network connectivity in the parietal cortex, especially feed-forward frontoparietal and parietal connections at the precuneus node within the default mode network. Within the salience and central executive networks, unconsciousness generated small increases in bidirectional connectivity. The most consistent predictions of consciousness came from a key set of frontoparietal connections, supporting the importance of the posterior hot zone in explaining loss of consciousness.