Cortical connectivity, local dynamics and stability correlates of global conscious states

Cortical connectivity, local dynamics and stability correlates of global conscious states | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Cortical connectivity, local dynamics and stability correlates of global conscious states Levin Kuhlmann, Yun Zhao, Naotsugu Tsuchiya, Mario Boley, Yueyang Liu, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5645596/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Communications Biology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Consciousness emerges from complex neural processes, yet its precise neurobiological correlates remain uncertain. Here a space-time-resolved inference-based framework is applied to estimate the neurophysiological variables of a whole-cortex model and analyze the neural mechanism correlates of global consciousness by way of a correlation analysis between behavioural and neural variable time-series. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) data from 15 participants under Xenon-induced anesthesia, interconnected neural mass models (NMMs) were developed and time-evolving regional neurophysiological variables and inter-regional connectivity strengths were inferred from the data. Analyses revealed significant correlations between consciousness levels and inter-regional connectivity, particularly in posterior parietal, occipital, and prefrontal regions. Moreover, results support a parietal, rather than frontal, network backbone to facilitate global consciousness. Regional-level analyses further identified correlates of consciousness within the posterior parietal and occipital regions. Lastly, reductions in consciousness were linked to stabilized cortical dynamics, reflected by changes in the eigenmodes of the system. This framework provides a novel, inference-based approach to investigating consciousness, offering a time-resolved perspective on neural mechanism correlates during altered states. Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Computational neuroscience Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive neuroscience/Consciousness Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files YunZhao2024SupplementaryInfo.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Communications Biology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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