Large-scale signatures of unconsciousness are consistent with a departure from critical dynamics
Journal of The Royal Society Interface January 1, 2016 Enzo Tagliazucchi, Dante R. Chialvo, Michael Siniatchkin et al. 210 citations
Loss of consciousness from propofol sedation reduces long-range temporal correlations in frontothalamic brain activity and weakens the link between functional connectivity and anatomical structure. A model based on phase transitions in complex systems reproduces these patterns and also explains the cortex's reduced sensitivity to external stimuli during unconsciousness. The findings suggest that these neural changes are universal across different causes of unconsciousness.