title: Physiologically motivated multiplex Kuramoto model describes phase diagram of cortical activity.
abstract: We derive a two-layer multiplex Kuramoto model from Wilson-Cowan type physiological equations that describe neural activity on a network of interconnected cortical regions. This is mathematically possible due to the existence of a unique, stable limit cycle, weak coupling, and inhibitory synaptic time delays. We study the phase diagram of this model numerically as a function of the inter-regional connection strength that is related to cerebral blood flow, and a phase shift parameter that is associated with synaptic GABA concentrations. We find three macroscopic phases of cortical activity: background activity (unsynchronized oscillations), epileptiform activity (highly synchronized oscillations) and resting-state activity (synchronized clusters/chaotic behaviour). Previous network models could hitherto not explain the existence of all three phases. We further observe a shift of the average oscillation frequency towards lower values together with the appearance of coherent slow oscillations at the transition from resting-state to epileptiform activity. This observation is fully in line with experimental data and could explain the influence of GABAergic drugs both on gamma oscillations and epileptic states. Compared to previous models for gamma oscillations and resting-state activity, the multiplex Kuramoto model not only provides a unifying framework, but also has a direct connection to measurable physiological parameters.
authors.affiliation: Section for Science of Complex Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadilek
authors.affiliation: 1] Section for Science of Complex Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090 Vienna, Austria [2] Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, New Mexico 87501, USA [3] IIASA, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurner
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018682:GABA Agents; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid