Neuronal Avalanches in the Neocortex

National Institute Of Mental Health

Investigators

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Abstract

1. 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 2. 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 3. 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.