Criticality in the brain: A synthesis of neurobiology, models and cognition

L Cocchi; LL Gollo; A Zalesky; M Breakspear

Journal article

Criticality in the brain: A synthesis of neurobiology, models and cognition

L Cocchi, LL Gollo, A Zalesky, M Breakspear

Progress in Neurobiology | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.07.002

Abstract

Cognitive function requires the coordination of neural activity across many scales, from neurons and circuits to large-scale networks. As such, it is unlikely that an explanatory framework focused upon any single scale will yield a comprehensive theory of brain activity and cognitive function. Modelling and analysis methods for neuroscience should aim to accommodate multiscale phenomena. Emerging research now suggests that multi-scale processes in the brain arise from so-called critical phenomena that occur very broadly in the natural world. Criticality arises in complex systems perched between order and disorder, and is marked by fluctuations that do not have any privileged spatial or tempo..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Andrew Zalesky Author

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Grants

Awarded by Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

Dedicated to the memory of Walter Freeman whose seminal early work inspired us and shaped the field. The authors thank the very helpful feedback from the anonymous reviewers. L.C., L.L.G, A.Z and M.B. were supported by the Australian National Health Medical Research Council (L.C. APP1099082, L.L.G. APP1110975, A.Z. APP1047648, M.B. APP1037196 and APP1118153). This work was also supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function (M.B., ARC Centre Grant CE140100007).