Structure and Dynamics of Brain Lobe's Functional Networks at the Onset of Anesthesia-Induced Loss of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive November 15, 2016 Eduardo C. Padovani
Anesthetic agents like Ketamine-Medetomidine significantly alter the functional brain networks in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Using a dense ECoG-electrode array on the cortical surface of a macaque monkey, researchers recorded neural activity and estimated network properties every five seconds. Within about one and a half minutes after anesthetic administration, distinct changes in network architecture occurred across all four lobes. These findings provide experimental evidence linking the structure and properties of functional brain networks to the neural correlates of consciousness, showing how anesthesia disrupts large-scale connectivity.