NREM sleep stages specifically alter dynamical integration of large-scale brain networks
Anjali Tarun, Danyal Wainstein-Andriano, Virginie Sterpenich, Laurence Bayer, Lampros Perogamvros, Mark Solms, Nikolai Axmacher, Sophie Schwartz, Dimitri Van De Ville
Abstract
brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Spatial brain maps generally display significant modifications in terms of their tendency to occur across wakefulness and NREM sleep. Unexpectedly, almost all networks predominated in activity during NREM stage 2 before an abrupt loss of activity is observed in NREM stage 3. Yet, functional connectivity and mutual dependencies between these networks progressively broke down with increasing sleep depth. Thus, the efficiency of information transfer during NREM stage 2 is low despite the high attempt to communicate. Critically, our approach provides relevant data for evaluating functional brain network integrity and our findings robustly support a significant advance in our neural models of human sleep and consciousness.