Article

Human consciousness is supported by dynamic complex patterns of brain signal coordination

Athéna DemertziGIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute B34, University of Liège, Avenue de l’Hôpital, 11, 4000 Sart Tilman, BelgiumEnzo TagliazucchiInstitut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 bd de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, FranceStanislas DehaeneCognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191 Gif/Yvette, FranceGustavo DecoCenter for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Calle Ramon Trias Fargas 25-27, Barcelona 08005, SpainPablo BarttfeldLaboratory of Integrative Neuroscience, Physics Department, FCEyN UBA and IFIBA, CONICET, Pabellón 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFederico RaimondoDepartment of Computer Science, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Intendente Güiraldes 2160–Ciudad Universitaria–C1428EGA, University of Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCharlotte MartialGIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute B34, University of Liège, Avenue de l’Hôpital, 11, 4000 Sart Tilman, BelgiumDavinia Fernández‐EspejoCentre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, UKBenjamin RohautDepartment of Neurology, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-3784, USAHenning U. VossRadiology Department, Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, 516 E. 72nd Street, New York, NY 10021, USANicholas D. SchiffFeil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USAAdrian M. OwenThe Brain and Mind Institute, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building, N6A 5B7 University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, CanadaSteven LaureysGIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute B34, University of Liège, Avenue de l’Hôpital, 11, 4000 Sart Tilman, BelgiumLionel NaccacheINSERM, U 1127, F-75013 Paris, FranceJacobo SittINSERM, U 1127, F-75013 Paris, France

2019en

ABI

Abstract

Adopting the framework of brain dynamics as a cornerstone of human consciousness, we determined whether dynamic signal coordination provides specific and generalizable patterns pertaining to conscious and unconscious states after brain damage. A dynamic pattern of coordinated and anticoordinated functional magnetic resonance imaging signals characterized healthy individuals and minimally conscious patients. The brains of unresponsive patients showed primarily a pattern of low interareal phase coherence mainly mediated by structural connectivity, and had smaller chances to transition between patterns. The complex pattern was further corroborated in patients with covert cognition, who could perform neuroimaging mental imagery tasks, validating this pattern's implication in consciousness. Anesthesia increased the probability of the less complex pattern to equal levels, validating its implication in unconsciousness. Our results establish that consciousness rests on the brain's ability to sustain rich brain dynamics and pave the way for determining specific and generalizable fingerprints of conscious and unconscious states.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat7603

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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