30 research outputs found
Non-equilibrium dynamics and entropy production in the human brain
Living systems operate out of thermodynamic equilibrium at small scales,
consuming energy and producing entropy in the environment in order to perform
molecular and cellular functions. However, it remains unclear whether
non-equilibrium dynamics manifest at macroscopic scales, and if so, how such
dynamics support higher-order biological functions. Here we present a framework
to probe for non-equilibrium dynamics by quantifying entropy production in
macroscopic systems. We apply our method to the human brain, an organ whose
immense metabolic consumption drives a diverse range of cognitive functions.
Using whole-brain imaging data, we demonstrate that the brain fundamentally
operates out of equilibrium at large scales. Moreover, we find that the brain
produces more entropy -- operating further from equilibrium -- when performing
physically and cognitively demanding tasks. By simulating an Ising model, we
show that macroscopic non-equilibrium dynamics can arise from asymmetries in
the interactions at the microscale. Together, these results suggest that
non-equilibrium dynamics are vital for cognition, and provide a general tool
for quantifying the non-equilibrium nature of macroscopic systems.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figure
Multiscale and multimodal network dynamics underpinning working memory
Working memory (WM) allows information to be stored and manipulated over
short time scales. Performance on WM tasks is thought to be supported by the
frontoparietal system (FPS), the default mode system (DMS), and interactions
between them. Yet little is known about how these systems and their
interactions relate to individual differences in WM performance. We address
this gap in knowledge using functional MRI data acquired during the performance
of a 2-back WM task, as well as diffusion tensor imaging data collected in the
same individuals. We show that the strength of functional interactions between
the FPS and DMS during task engagement is inversely correlated with WM
performance, and that this strength is modulated by the activation of FPS
regions but not DMS regions. Next, we use a clustering algorithm to identify
two distinct subnetworks of the FPS, and find that these subnetworks display
distinguishable patterns of gene expression. Activity in one subnetwork is
positively associated with the strength of FPS-DMS functional interactions,
while activity in the second subnetwork is negatively associated. Further, the
pattern of structural linkages of these subnetworks explains their differential
capacity to influence the strength of FPS-DMS functional interactions. To
determine whether these observations could provide a mechanistic account of
large-scale neural underpinnings of WM, we build a computational model of the
system composed of coupled oscillators. Modulating the amplitude of the
subnetworks in the model causes the expected change in the strength of FPS-DMS
functional interactions, thereby offering support for a mechanism in which
subnetwork activity tunes functional interactions. Broadly, our study presents
a holistic account of how regional activity, functional interactions, and
structural linkages together support individual differences in WM in humans
Development of structural correlations and synchronization from adaptive rewiring in networks of Kuramoto oscillators
L.P. acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. J.K. acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and NIH T32-EB020087, PD: Felix W. Wehrli. D.S.B. also acknowledges support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the National Science Foundation (BCS-1441502, CAREER PHY-1554488, BCS-1631550, and CNS-1626008). We also thank two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the quality of this work. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of any of the funding agencies.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Properties of Ly-alpha emitters around the radio galaxy MRC 0316-257
Observations of the radio galaxy MRC 0316-257 at z=3.13 and the surrounding
field are presented. Using narrow- and broad-band imaging obtained with the
VLT, 77 candidate Ly-alpha emitters with a rest-frame equivalent width of > 15
A were selected in a ~7'x7' field around the radio galaxy. Spectroscopy of 40
candidate emitters resulted in the discovery of 33 emission line galaxies of
which 31 are Ly-alpha emitters with redshifts similar to that of the radio
galaxy, while the remaining two galaxies turned out to be [OII] emitters. The
Ly-alpha profiles have widths (FWHM) in the range of 120-800 km/s, with a
median of 260 km/s. Where the signal-to-noise was large enough, the Ly-alpha
profiles were found to be asymmetric, with apparent absorption troughs blueward
of the profile peaks, indicative of absorption along the line of sight of an HI
mass of at least 2x10^2 - 5x10^4 M_sun. The properties of the Ly-alpha galaxies
(faint, blue and small) are consistent with young star forming galaxies which
are still nearly dust free. The volume density of Ly-alpha emitting galaxies in
the field around MRC 0316-257 is a factor of 3.3+0.5-0.4 larger compared with
the density of field Ly-alpha emitters at that redshift. The velocity
distribution of the spectroscopically confirmed emitters has a FWHM of 1510
km/s, which is substantially smaller than the width of the narrow-band filter
(FWHM ~ 3500 km/s). The peak of the velocity distribution is located within 200
km/s of the redshift of the radio galaxy. We conclude that the confirmed
Ly-alpha emitters are members of a protocluster of galaxies at z~3.13. The size
of the protocluster is larger than 3.3x3.3 Mpc^2. The mass of this structure is
estimated to be > 3-6x10^14 M_sun and could be the progenitor of a cluster of
galaxies similar to e.g. the Virgo cluster. (Abridged)Comment: 23 Pages, including 20 PostScript figures. Publiced in Astronomy &
Astrophysics. v2: typo fixed and Journal reference adde
Relations between large-scale brain connectivity and effects of regional stimulation depend on collective dynamical state
International audienceAt the macroscale, the brain operates as a network of interconnected neuronal populations, which display coordinated rhythmic dynamics that support interareal communication. Understanding how stimulation of different brain areas impacts such activity is important for gaining basic insights into brain function and for further developing therapeutic neurmodulation. However, the complexity of brain structure and dynamics hinders predictions regarding the downstream effects of focal stimulation. More specifically, little is known about how the collective oscillatory regime of brain network activity-in concert with network structure-affects the outcomes of perturbations. Here, we combine human connectome data and biophysical modeling to begin filling these gaps. By tuning parameters that control collective system dynamics, we identify distinct states of simulated brain activity and investigate how the distributed effects of stimulation manifest at different dynamical working points. When baseline oscillations are weak, the stimulated area exhibits enhanced power and frequency, and due to network interactions, activity in this excited frequency band propagates to nearby regions. Notably, beyond these linear effects, we further find that focal stimulation causes more distributed modifications to interareal coherence in a band containing regions' baseline oscillation frequencies. Importantly, depending on the dynamical state of the system, these broadband effects can be better predicted by functional rather than structural connectivity, emphasizing a complex interplay between anatomical organization, dynamics, and response to perturbation. In contrast, when the network operates in a regime of strong regional oscillations, stimulation causes only slight shifts in power and frequency, and structural connectivity becomes most predictive of stimulation-induced changes in network activity patterns. In sum, this work builds upon and extends previous computational studies investigating the impacts of stimulation, and underscores the fact that both the stimulation site, and, crucially, the regime of brain network dynamics, can influence the network-wide responses to local perturbations