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
Affiliations
Anjali Tarun
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Institute of Bioengineering, Medical Image Processing Laboratory), Geneva 1202, Switzerland; University of Geneva (Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics), Geneva 1202, Switzerland; Corresponding author
Danyal Wainstein-Andriano
University of Cape Town (Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities), Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology), Ruhr 44801, Germany
Virginie Sterpenich
University of Geneva, (Department of Basic Neurosciences), Geneva 1202, Switzerland
Laurence Bayer
University Hospitals of Geneva (Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine), Geneva 1202, Switzerland
Lampros Perogamvros
University of Geneva, (Department of Basic Neurosciences), Geneva 1202, Switzerland; University Hospitals of Geneva (Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine), Geneva 1202, Switzerland
Mark Solms
University of Cape Town (Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities), Cape Town 7701, South Africa
Nikolai Axmacher
Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology), Ruhr 44801, Germany
Sophie Schwartz
University of Geneva, (Department of Basic Neurosciences), Geneva 1202, Switzerland
Dimitri Van De Ville
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Institute of Bioengineering, Medical Image Processing Laboratory), Geneva 1202, Switzerland; University of Geneva (Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics), Geneva 1202, Switzerland
Summary: Functional dissociations in the brain observed during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep have been associated with reduced information integration and impaired consciousness that accompany increasing sleep depth. Here, we explored the dynamical properties of large-scale functional brain networks derived from transient 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.
