The persistent and broadly distributed EEG synchronization might inhibit the normal processing capability of the human brain.
Synchrony in the brain functioning describes the mode that the components are interacted and reflect the collective behaviour of neuronal assemblies. Nevertheless, the excessive and prolonged coupling among brain sites is relevant with disturbed information routing. In the present study we investigated the possibility that the sustained oscillatory states and the common mode in which several brain sites vary their functional connectivity inhibit the ability of the brain in perceiving and processing information. The hypothesis, that in many interacting systems, greater regularity-rhythmicity corresponds to grater component self-organization and isolation, is investigated in the case of thought blocks (under persistent auditory verbal hallucinations) and epileptic absences (under spike wave discharges). Our findings indicate that the observed common mode of coupling significantly restrains the normal flow of mental processes. This erroneous "connectivity mode" in the presence of symptoms such as thought blocks and absences respectively, was found to eliminate the spontaneous synchrony variability, essentially needed for the information processing, by fixating the functional specificity of the respected brain sites.
Athens University, Medical School, 1st Psychiatric Dept., Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Ave., 115 28 Athens, Greece; University Mental Health Research Institute, Signal Processing Laboratory, 2 Soranou Efessiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: eliaskoutsoukos@gmail.com.
Elias
E
Koutsoukos
University Mental Health Research Institute, Signal Processing Laboratory, 2 Soranou Efessiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Antonis
A
Maillis
Athens University, Medical School, 1st Psychiatric Dept., Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Ave., 115 28 Athens, Greece; University Mental Health Research Institute, Signal Processing Laboratory, 2 Soranou Efessiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Charalambos
C
Papageorgiou
University of Athens, Department of Neurosurgery, Epilepsy Surgery Unit, 'Evangelismos', Hospital, 45-47, Ipsilantou Str., Athens 106 76, Greece.
Stylianos
S
Gatzonis
University Mental Health Research Institute, Signal Processing Laboratory, 2 Soranou Efessiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Costas
C
Stefanis
Athens University, Medical School, 1st Psychiatric Dept., Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Ave., 115 28 Athens, Greece; University Mental Health Research Institute, Signal Processing Laboratory, 2 Soranou Efessiou Str., 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Elias
E
Angelopoulos
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D058407:Electroencephalography Phase Synchronization; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes
Absence seizures; Auditory verbal hallucinations; Brain oscillations; EEG; Epilepsy; Excessive synchronization; Inhibition of mental processes; Schizophrenia; Spike wave discharges; Thought blocks