Decoupling of the brain's default mode network during deep sleep
Silvina G. Horovitz, Allen R. Braun, Walter S. Carr, Dante Picchioni, Thomas J. Balkin, Masaki Fukunaga, Jeff H. Duyn
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 19, 2009 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0901435106 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA natural reduction of consciousness during sleep alters the correlation between components of the default-mode network (DMN), particularly reducing the involvement of frontal cortex. This suggests the DMN may play an important role in sustaining conscious awareness. The finding contrasts with a recent study in anesthetized primates that proposed DMN activity reflects general network dynamics rather than conscious mentation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Humans |
| Citations | 706 |
| Key finding | Sleep-induced reduction of consciousness is reflected in altered correlation between DMN network components, most notably a reduced involvement of frontal cortex. |
Abstract
The recent discovery of a circuit of brain regions that is highly active in the absence of overt behavior has led to a quest for revealing the possible function of this so-called default-mode network (DMN). A very recent study, finding similarities in awake humans and anesthetized primates, has suggested that DMN activity might not simply reflect ongoing conscious mentation but rather a more general form of network dynamics typical of complex systems. Here, by performing functional MRI in humans, it is shown that a natural, sleep-induced reduction of consciousness is reflected in altered correlation between DMN network components, most notably a reduced involvement of frontal cortex. This suggests that DMN may play an important role in the sustenance of conscious awareness.