Critical dynamics predicts cognitive performance and provides a common framework for heterogeneous mechanisms impacting cognition

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Mueller, Paul Manuel; Miron, Gadi; Holtkamp, Martin; Meisel, Christian
• 署名单位: Free University of Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin; Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin; Free University of Berlin; Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin; Berlin Institute of Health; Free University of Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin; Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin; Free University of Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin; Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-13834
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2417117122
• 发表日期: 2025-04-08
• 关键词: range temporal correlations; neuronal avalanches; DOUBLE-BLIND; epilepsy; brain; networks; excitability; INFORMATION; spiking; models

摘要

The brain criticality hypothesis postulates that brain dynamics are set at a phase transition where information processing is optimized. Long-range temporal correlations (TCs) characterizing the dissipation of information within a signal have been shown to be a hallmark of brain criticality. However, the experimental link between cognitive performance, criticality, and thus TCs has remained elusive due to limitations in recording length and spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, we investigate multiday invasive EEG recordings of 104 persons with epilepsy (PwE) together with an extensive cognitive test battery. We show that short TCs predict cognitive impairment. Further, we show that heterogeneous factors, including interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), antiseizure medications (ASMs), and intermittent periods with slow-wave activity (SWSs), all act directly to perturb critical dynamics and thus cognition. Our work suggests critical dynamics to be the setpoint to measure optimal network function, thereby providing a unifying framework for the heterogeneous mechanisms impacting cognition in conditions like epilepsy.