Hierarchical rhythmic propagation of corticothalamic interactions for consciousness: A computational study.
Computers in biology and medicine February 1, 2024 Qian Zhang, Han Lu, Jihang Wang et al.
A computational model of an extended corticothalamic network simulates how different concentrations of propofol alter states of consciousness. The model shows that oscillation spread across the cortex moves from posterior to anterior brain regions in four sequential stages, driven by differences in connections between regions. This suggests that hierarchical rhythm propagation depends on the heterogeneity of inter-regional connectivity. The model provides a millisecond-resolution simulation platform for studying how brain areas coordinate activity during consciousness and how anesthetics affect brain regions.