Neuronal Avalanches in the Neocortex

National Institute Of Mental Health

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

1. We demonstrated for the first time that large expansive patterns of neuronal avalanches are linked to the selective activity of single nerve cells. These findings settled a long-standing debate whether large avalanches represent highly specific incidences of neuronal activity. The demonstration of this finding in awake animals as well as in vitro systems pave the way for cellular analysis of avalanche dynamics under precisely controlled in vitro systems. Bellay et al. 2021 2. We demonstrated for the first time that the specific and unique brain architecture formed by neuronal avalanches is stable over many weeks and months. The findings obtained with advanced multielectrode technology demonstrate avalanches to represent an overarching principle of brain activity despite ongoing developmental and other related plasticity changes. Miller et al., 2021 3. We demonstrated for the first time in extensive simulations of different neuronal models and collective systems how estimates of the delayed autocorrelation activity in single system elements can be used to homeostatically control neuronal avalanches in networks. Chialvo et al., 2020 4. We demonstrate how box-scaling can be used to overcome spatial limits in 2-photon imaging which prevent the identification of critical state dynamics in cortical activity. Mart Martin et. al., 2020 5. We published a comprehensive review on the experimental evidence provided by numerous groups over the last 20 years on self-organized criticality in the brain. This review demonstrates that the most robust signature of self-organized criticality in the form of neuron avalanches arises in so-called superficial cortical layers of the mammalian brain. Accordingly, brain preparations that do not include superficial layers do not show robust signatures of criticality. This review provides an important guide for future research with respect to potential experimental pitfalls in criticality research. Plenz et al., 2021 6. We provided a comprehensive review on how collective phenomena in the brain and in animal groups share common theoretical aspects such as the presence of so-called phase transition. This review for the first time provides an important bridge between numerous, diverse fields of research studying the robust present and potential advantage of collective dynamics. Lins-Ribeiro et al., 2021.