BRAINSYNC

Large scale interactions in brain networks and their breakdown in brain diseases

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The long-term goal of this project is to understand how neuronal assemblies exchange information (functional or neuronal communication), and how variability in neuronal communication explains variability in behavioural performance, both in the intact and injured brain. Communication involves temporal interactions between neuronal assemblies either locally within an area or large-scale between areas. We concentrate on large-scale interaction that occur at two different temporal scales: 'slow' (<0.1 Hz) fluctuations of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal easily measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and 'fast' (1-150 Hz) neuronal oscillations measured at high (multi-unit activity (MUA), local field potential (LFP)) or low (electroencephalography, EEG; magnetoencephalography, MEG) spatial resolution. We wish to demonstrate that these two phenomena are mechanistically linked and are behaviorally significant. A potentially important clinical application is the development of easy-to-use diagnostic measures of neuronal communication for many brain diseases such as stroke, traumatic head injury, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers have developed innovative methods for studying how different parts of the brain communicate with one another. The European project's results could eventually result in new diagnostic tools for brain diseases and injuries.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Scientists already have a good understanding of neural communication at the local level (i.e. involving single neurons or individual brain areas). However, less is known about communication between different neuronal assemblies. Neuronal assemblies are groups of neurons that are well connected and are often active at the same time. The neurons in an assembly can be scattered throughout different regions of the brain, and one neuron can be part of a number of different assemblies.

Working to boost our understanding of how assemblies exchange information is the EU-funded project 'Large-scale interactions in brain networks and their breakdown in brain diseases' (Brainsync). Launched in 2008, Brainsync is investigating how variations in neuronal communication relate to variations in behaviour.

In its second year, the Brainsync partners came up with an array of innovative methods for recording, analysing and modelling neural signals in both humans and non-human primates.

For example, one research group has succeeded in using magnetoencephalography (MEG) data to view interactions across brain regions in the resting state. Another newly developed method draws on MEG data to pick up consistent lagged signal interactions between regions.

Elsewhere, Brainsync researchers have pioneered the combination in humans of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The team recently extended this approach to study interactions between different parts of the brain during active behaviour.

The potential clinical applications of the Brainsync project's work extend to the many neurological and psychiatric diseases and conditions which may be characterised by abnormal neural communication, including stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.