Back to Search Start Over

Rapid thalamocortical network switching mediated by cortical synchronization underlies propofol-induced EEG signatures: a biophysical model.

Authors :
Soplata, Austin E.
Adam, Elie
Brown, Emery N.
Purdon, Patrick L.
McCarthy, Michelle M.
Kopell, Nancy
Source :
Journal of Neurophysiology. Jul2023, Vol. 130 Issue 1, p86-103. 18p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Propofol-mediated unconsciousness elicits strong alpha/low-beta and slow oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of patients. As anesthetic dose increases, the EEG signal changes in ways that give clues to the level of unconsciousness; the network mechanisms of these changes are only partially understood. Here, we construct a biophysical thalamocortical network involving brain stem influences that reproduces transitions in dynamics seen in the EEG involving the evolution of the power and frequency of alpha/low-beta and slow rhythm, as well as their interactions. Our model suggests that propofol engages thalamic spindle and cortical sleep mechanisms to elicit persistent alpha/low-beta and slow rhythms, respectively. The thalamocortical network fluctuates between two mutually exclusive states on the timescale of seconds. One state is characterized by continuous alpha/low-beta-frequency spiking in thalamus (C-state), whereas in the other, thalamic alpha spiking is interrupted by periods of co-occurring thalamic and cortical silence (I-state). In the I-state, alpha colocalizes to the peak of the slow oscillation; in the Cstate, there is a variable relationship between an alpha/beta rhythm and the slow oscillation. The C-state predominates near loss of consciousness; with increasing dose, the proportion of time spent in the I-state increases, recapitulating EEG phenomenology. Cortical synchrony drives the switch to the I-state by changing the nature of the thalamocortical feedback. Brain stem influence on the strength of thalamocortical feedback mediates the amount of cortical synchrony. Our model implicates loss of low-beta, cortical synchrony, and coordinated thalamocortical silent periods as contributing to the unconscious state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00223077
Volume :
130
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Neurophysiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
164772896
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00068.2022