Journal of neural engineering
June 10, 2025
Daniel Polyakov, P A Robinson, Eli J Müller et al.
2 citations
A computational method uses a simplified brain model fitted to a patient's EEG power spectrum to design personalized electrical stimulation signals. In computer simulations, these signals induce healthy-like brain activity patterns in models of people with disorders of consciousness. When the model's parameters were near a stability boundary, stimulation caused a lasting change in activity beyond the stimulation period. The approach may activate plasticity mechanisms during long-term treatment, potentially leading to sustained improvements. Further clinical adjustments and validation are needed, but the method holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes in disorders of consciousness and may extend to other neurological conditions.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
November 19, 2025
Inbal Algom, Oren Shriki
Theories of consciousness offer valuable insights but lack a unifying mechanistic framework. The ConCrit hypothesis proposes that consciousness arises when neural networks operate near a critical transition point—a state of heightened sensitivity and complexity. Near-critical systems enhance the richness of internal representations and sensitivity to the system's own state, making conscious experience more likely. As the brain deviates from this critical regime, consciousness may diminish. This review examines critical brain dynamics, their theoretical and empirical links to consciousness, and outlines predictions for testing the framework.
Neuroscience of consciousness
January 1, 2025
Daniel Polyakov, P A Robinson, Avigail Makbili et al.
Neural field theory (NFT) can model brain activity across different states of consciousness. By fitting a corticothalamic NFT model to EEG data from healthy individuals and patients with disorders of consciousness, researchers identified correlations between NFT parameters and features of both experimental and simulated EEG. These correlations distinguish healthy from impaired consciousness and point to potential physiological biomarkers. The findings clarify how consciousness levels are represented in the NFT framework and highlight its value for in-silico experimentation in consciousness research.
bioRxiv Preprint Server
October 27, 2024
Daniel Polyakov, P.a. Robinson, Avigail Makbili et al.
preprint
Neural field theory (NFT) may serve as a computational framework for representing states of consciousness, though its parameters' connection to consciousness levels is not yet clear. Prior work has shown NFT can distinguish normal from pathological consciousness states.