Recovery of neural dynamics criticality in personalized whole brain models of stroke

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe critical brain hypothesis states that biological neuronal networks, because of their structural and functional architecture, work near phase transitions for optimal response to internal and external inputs. Criticality thus provides optimal function and behavioral capabilities. We test this hypothesis by examining the influence of brain injury (strokes) on the criticality of neural dynamics estimated at the level of single subjects using whole-brain models. Lesions engendered a sub-critical state that recovered over time in parallel with behavior. Notably, this improvement of criticality depended on the re-modeling of specific white matter connections. In summary, personalized whole-brain dynamical models poised at criticality track neural dynamics, alteration post-stroke, and behavior at the level of single subjects.