A
central
goal
of
neuroscience
is
to
understand
how
the
brain
orchestrates
information
from
multiple
input
streams
into
a
unified
conscious
experience.
Here,
we
address
two
fundamental
questions:
human
information-processing
architecture
functionally
organised,
and
does
its
organisation
support
consciousness?
We
combine
network
science
rigorous
information-theoretic
notion
synergy
delineate
"synergistic
global
workspace",
comprising
gateway
regions
that
gather
synergistic
specialised
modules
across
brain.
This
then
integrated
within
workspace
widely
distributed
via
broadcaster
regions.
Through
functional
MRI
analysis,
show
correspond
brain's
default
mode
network,
whereas
broadcasters
coincide
with
executive
control
network.
Demonstrating
empirical
relevance
our
proposed
for
neural
processing,
loss
consciousness
due
general
anaesthesia
or
disorders
corresponds
diminished
ability
integrate
information,
which
restored
upon
recovery.
Thus,
coincides
breakdown
integration
work
contributes
conceptual
reconciliation
between
prominent
scientific
theories
consciousness,
Global
Neuronal
Workspace
Integrated
Information
Theory.
Taken
together,
this
provides
new
perspective
on
role
resting-state
networks
architecture,
while
also
advancing
understanding
supports
through
information.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
28(4), P. 352 - 368
Published: Jan. 9, 2024
To
explain
how
the
brain
orchestrates
information-processing
for
cognition,
we
must
understand
information
itself.
Importantly,
is
not
a
monolithic
entity.
Information
decomposition
techniques
provide
way
to
split
into
its
constituent
elements:
unique,
redundant,
and
synergistic
information.
We
review
disentangling
redundant
interactions
redefining
our
understanding
of
integrative
function
neural
organisation.
navigates
trade-offs
between
redundancy
synergy,
converging
evidence
integrating
structural,
molecular,
functional
underpinnings
synergy
redundancy;
their
roles
in
cognition
computation;
they
might
arise
over
evolution
development.
Overall,
provides
guiding
principle
informational
architecture
cognition.
How
is
the
information-processing
architecture
of
human
brain
organised,
and
how
does
its
organisation
support
consciousness?
Here,
we
combine
network
science
a
rigorous
information-theoretic
notion
synergy
to
delineate
‘synergistic
global
workspace’,
comprising
gateway
regions
that
gather
synergistic
information
from
specialised
modules
across
brain.
This
then
integrated
within
workspace
widely
distributed
via
broadcaster
regions.
Through
functional
MRI
analysis,
show
correspond
brain’s
default
mode
network,
whereas
broadcasters
coincide
with
executive
control
network.
We
find
loss
consciousness
due
general
anaesthesia
or
disorders
corresponds
diminished
ability
integrate
information,
which
restored
upon
recovery.
Thus,
coincides
breakdown
integration
work
contributes
conceptual
empirical
reconciliation
between
two
prominent
scientific
theories
consciousness,
Global
Neuronal
Workspace
Integrated
Information
Theory,
while
also
advancing
our
understanding
supports
through
information.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: March 11, 2024
Abstract
A
central
challenge
of
neuroscience
is
to
elucidate
how
brain
function
supports
consciousness.
Here,
we
combine
the
specificity
focal
deep
stimulation
with
fMRI
coverage
entire
cortex,
in
awake
and
anaesthetised
non-human
primates.
During
propofol,
sevoflurane,
or
ketamine
anaesthesia,
subsequent
restoration
responsiveness
by
electrical
thalamus,
investigate
loss
consciousness
impacts
distributed
patterns
structure-function
organisation
across
scales.
We
report
that
activity
under
anaesthesia
increasingly
constrained
structure
scales,
coinciding
anaesthetic-induced
collapse
multiple
dimensions
hierarchical
cortical
organisation.
These
signatures
are
observed
different
anaesthetics,
they
reversed
recovery
behavioural
markers
arousal.
No
such
effects
were
upon
stimulating
ventral
lateral
demonstrating
specificity.
Overall,
identify
consistent
orchestrated
specific
thalamic
nuclei.
NeuroImage,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
275, P. 120162 - 120162
Published: May 15, 2023
Disorders
of
consciousness
are
complex
conditions
characterised
by
persistent
loss
responsiveness
due
to
brain
injury.
They
present
diagnostic
challenges
and
limited
options
for
treatment,
highlight
the
urgent
need
a
more
thorough
understanding
how
human
arises
from
coordinated
neural
activity.
The
increasing
availability
multimodal
neuroimaging
data
has
given
rise
wide
range
clinically-
scientifically-motivated
modelling
efforts,
seeking
improve
data-driven
stratification
patients,
identify
causal
mechanisms
patient
pathophysiology
broadly,
develop
simulations
as
means
testing
in
silico
potential
treatment
avenues
restore
consciousness.
As
dedicated
Working
Group
clinicians
neuroscientists
international
Curing
Coma
Campaign,
here
we
provide
our
framework
vision
understand
diverse
statistical
generative
computational
approaches
that
being
employed
this
fast-growing
field.
We
gaps
exist
between
current
state-of-the-art
biophysical
neuroscience,
aspirational
goal
mature
field
disorders
consciousness;
which
might
drive
improved
treatments
outcomes
clinic.
Finally,
make
several
recommendations
whole
can
work
together
address
these
challenges.
How
is
the
information-processing
architecture
of
human
brain
organised,
and
how
does
its
organisation
support
consciousness?
Here,
we
combine
network
science
a
rigorous
information-theoretic
notion
synergy
to
delineate
‘synergistic
global
workspace’,
comprising
gateway
regions
that
gather
synergistic
information
from
specialised
modules
across
brain.
This
then
integrated
within
workspace
widely
distributed
via
broadcaster
regions.
Through
functional
MRI
analysis,
show
correspond
brain’s
default
mode
network,
whereas
broadcasters
coincide
with
executive
control
network.
We
find
loss
consciousness
due
general
anaesthesia
or
disorders
corresponds
diminished
ability
integrate
information,
which
restored
upon
recovery.
Thus,
coincides
breakdown
integration
work
contributes
conceptual
empirical
reconciliation
between
two
prominent
scientific
theories
consciousness,
Global
Neuronal
Workspace
Integrated
Information
Theory,
while
also
advancing
our
understanding
supports
through
information.
PLoS ONE,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
19(2), P. e0297128 - e0297128
Published: Feb. 5, 2024
Since
its
introduction,
the
partial
information
decomposition
(PID)
has
emerged
as
a
powerful,
information-theoretic
technique
useful
for
studying
structure
of
(potentially
higher-order)
interactions
in
complex
systems.
Despite
utility,
applicability
PID
is
restricted
by
need
to
assign
elements
either
“sources”
or
“targets”,
well
specific
mutual
itself.
Here,
I
introduce
generalized
that
relaxes
source/target
distinction
while
still
satisfying
basic
intuitions
about
information.
This
approach
based
on
Kullback-Leibler
divergence,
and
consequently
allows
analysis
any
gained
when
updating
from
an
arbitrary
prior
posterior.
As
result,
measure
can
be
written
linear
combination
divergences
admits
style
Williams
Beer,
including
total
correlation,
negentropy,
special
cases.
paper
explores
how
reveal
novel
insights
into
existing
measures,
nature
higher-order
synergies.
We
show
synergistic
intimately
related
well-known
Tononi-Sporns-Edelman
(TSE)
complexity,
requires
similar
integration/segregation
balance
high
TSE
complexity.
Finally,
end
with
discussion
this
fits
other
attempts
generalize
possibilities
empirical
applications.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 26, 2020
Abstract
A
central
goal
of
neuroscience
is
to
understand
how
the
brain
orchestrates
information
from
multiple
input
streams
into
a
unified
conscious
experience.
Here,
we
address
two
fundamental
questions:
human
information-processing
architecture
functionally
organised,
and
does
its
organisation
support
consciousness?
We
combine
network
science
rigorous
information-theoretic
notion
synergy
delineate
“synergistic
global
workspace”,
comprising
gateway
regions
that
gather
synergistic
specialised
modules
across
brain.
This
then
integrated
within
workspace
widely
distributed
via
broadcaster
regions.
Through
functional
MRI
analysis,
show
correspond
brain’s
default
mode
network,
whereas
broadcasters
coincide
with
executive
control
network.
Demonstrating
empirical
relevance
our
proposed
for
neural
processing,
loss
consciousness
due
general
anaesthesia
or
disorders
corresponds
diminished
ability
integrate
information,
which
restored
upon
recovery.
Thus,
coincides
breakdown
integration
work
contributes
conceptual
reconciliation
between
prominent
scientific
theories
consciousness,
Global
Neuronal
Workspace
Integrated
Information
Theory.
Taken
together,
this
provides
new
perspective
on
role
resting-state
networks
architecture,
while
also
advancing
understanding
supports
through
information.
Trends in Neurosciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
47(7), P. 551 - 568
Published: May 31, 2024
Disentangling
how
cognitive
functions
emerge
from
the
interplay
of
brain
dynamics
and
network
architecture
is
among
major
challenges
that
neuroscientists
face.
Pharmacological
pathological
perturbations
consciousness
provide
a
lens
to
investigate
these
complex
challenges.
Here,
we
review
recent
advances
about
brain's
functional
organisation
have
been
driven
by
common
denominator:
decomposing
function
into
fundamental
constituents
time,
space,
information.
Whereas
unconsciousness
increases
structure-function
coupling
across
scales,
psychedelics
may
decouple
structure.
Convergent
effects
also
emerge:
anaesthetics,
psychedelics,
disorders
can
exhibit
similar
reconfigurations
unimodal-transmodal
axis.
Decomposition
approaches
reveal
potential
translate
discoveries
species,
with
computational
modelling
providing
path
towards
mechanistic
integration.
