TY - JOUR
T1 - Synchronization between the anterior and posterior cortex determines consciousness level in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
AU - Leon-Carrion, Jose
AU - Leon-Dominguez, Umberto
AU - Pollonini, Luca
AU - Wu, Meng Hung
AU - Frye, Richard E.
AU - Dominguez-Morales, Maria Rosario
AU - Zouridakis, George
PY - 2012/10/2
Y1 - 2012/10/2
N2 - Survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often suffer disorders of consciousness as a result of a breakdown in cortical connectivity. However, little is known about the neural discharges and cortical areas working in synchrony to generate consciousness in these patients. In this study, we analyzed cortical connectivity in patients with severe neurocognitive disorder (SND) and in the minimally conscious state (MCS). We found two synchronized networks subserving consciousness; one retrolandic (cognitive network) and the other frontal (executive control network). The synchrony between these networks is severely disrupted in patients in the MCS as compared to those with better levels of consciousness and a preserved state of alertness (SND). The executive control network could facilitate the synchronization and coherence of large populations of distant cortical neurons using high frequency oscillations on a precise temporal scale. Consciousness is altered or disappears after losing synchrony and coherence. We suggest that the synchrony between anterior and retrolandic regions is essential to awareness, and that a functioning frontal lobe is a surrogate marker for preserved consciousness. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Brain Integration.
AB - Survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often suffer disorders of consciousness as a result of a breakdown in cortical connectivity. However, little is known about the neural discharges and cortical areas working in synchrony to generate consciousness in these patients. In this study, we analyzed cortical connectivity in patients with severe neurocognitive disorder (SND) and in the minimally conscious state (MCS). We found two synchronized networks subserving consciousness; one retrolandic (cognitive network) and the other frontal (executive control network). The synchrony between these networks is severely disrupted in patients in the MCS as compared to those with better levels of consciousness and a preserved state of alertness (SND). The executive control network could facilitate the synchronization and coherence of large populations of distant cortical neurons using high frequency oscillations on a precise temporal scale. Consciousness is altered or disappears after losing synchrony and coherence. We suggest that the synchrony between anterior and retrolandic regions is essential to awareness, and that a functioning frontal lobe is a surrogate marker for preserved consciousness. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Brain Integration.
KW - Consciousness
KW - Functional cortical connectivity
KW - Minimal conscious state
KW - QEEG
KW - Severe neurocognitive disorder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866933724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866933724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.03.055
DO - 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.03.055
M3 - Article
C2 - 22534483
AN - SCOPUS:84866933724
VL - 1476
SP - 22
EP - 30
JO - Brain Research
JF - Brain Research
SN - 0006-8993
ER -