Work

Decoupling of the brain's default mode network during deep sleep

Year: 2009

Type: article

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.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0901435106

Authors: Silvina G. Horovitz, Allen R. Braun, Walter S. Carr, Dante Picchioni, Thomas J. Balkin, Masaki Fukunaga, Jeff H. Duyn

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Naval Medical Research Command, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Language: English

Topic: Functional Brain Connectivity Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

OpenAlex ID: W1985408596

FWCI: 18.73

Cites: 48

Cited by: 684

Related to: 10