Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain
On a regional scale the brain is organized into dynamic functional networks. The activity within one of these, the default network, can be dissociated from that in other task-specific networks. All brain networks are connected structurally, but evidently are only transiently connected functionally....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00139/full |
| _version_ | 1818016752675586048 |
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| author | Aaron eKirschner Julia Wing Yan eKam Todd C Handy Lawrence McCue Ward Lawrence McCue Ward |
| author_facet | Aaron eKirschner Julia Wing Yan eKam Todd C Handy Lawrence McCue Ward Lawrence McCue Ward |
| author_sort | Aaron eKirschner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On a regional scale the brain is organized into dynamic functional networks. The activity within one of these, the default network, can be dissociated from that in other task-specific networks. All brain networks are connected structurally, but evidently are only transiently connected functionally. One hypothesis as to how such transient functional coupling occurs is that network formation and dissolution is mediated, or at least accompanied, by increases and decreases in oscillatory synchronization between constituent brain regions. If so, then we should be able to find transient differences in intra-network synchronization between the default network and a task-specific network. In order to investigate this hypothesis we conducted two experiments in which subjects engaged in a Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) while having brain activity recorded via high-density electroencephalography (EEG). We found that during periods when attention was focused internally (mind-wandering) there was significantly more neural phase synchronization between brain regions associated with the default network, whereas during periods when subjects were focused on performing the visual task there was significantly more neural phase synchrony within a task-specific brain network that shared some of the same brain regions. These differences in network synchrony occurred in each of theta, alpha, and gamma frequency bands. A similar pattern of differential oscillatory power changes, indicating modulation of local synchronization by attention state, was also found. These results provide further evidence that the human brain is intrinsically organized into default and task-specific brain networks, and confirm that oscillatory synchronization is a potential mechanism for functional coupling within these networks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:16:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c859263af20474584d1a71ed3d79e5c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:16:55Z |
| publishDate | 2012-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c859263af20474584d1a71ed3d79e5c2022-12-22T02:06:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612012-05-01610.3389/fnhum.2012.0013923678Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brainAaron eKirschner0Julia Wing Yan eKam1Todd C Handy2Lawrence McCue Ward3Lawrence McCue Ward4University of Western OntarioUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaBrain Research CentreOn a regional scale the brain is organized into dynamic functional networks. The activity within one of these, the default network, can be dissociated from that in other task-specific networks. All brain networks are connected structurally, but evidently are only transiently connected functionally. One hypothesis as to how such transient functional coupling occurs is that network formation and dissolution is mediated, or at least accompanied, by increases and decreases in oscillatory synchronization between constituent brain regions. If so, then we should be able to find transient differences in intra-network synchronization between the default network and a task-specific network. In order to investigate this hypothesis we conducted two experiments in which subjects engaged in a Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) while having brain activity recorded via high-density electroencephalography (EEG). We found that during periods when attention was focused internally (mind-wandering) there was significantly more neural phase synchronization between brain regions associated with the default network, whereas during periods when subjects were focused on performing the visual task there was significantly more neural phase synchrony within a task-specific brain network that shared some of the same brain regions. These differences in network synchrony occurred in each of theta, alpha, and gamma frequency bands. A similar pattern of differential oscillatory power changes, indicating modulation of local synchronization by attention state, was also found. These results provide further evidence that the human brain is intrinsically organized into default and task-specific brain networks, and confirm that oscillatory synchronization is a potential mechanism for functional coupling within these networks.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00139/fullgamma banddefault networktask-specific networkneural synchronizationoscillatory powertheta band |
| spellingShingle | Aaron eKirschner Julia Wing Yan eKam Todd C Handy Lawrence McCue Ward Lawrence McCue Ward Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain Frontiers in Human Neuroscience gamma band default network task-specific network neural synchronization oscillatory power theta band |
| title | Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain |
| title_full | Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain |
| title_fullStr | Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain |
| title_short | Differential synchronization in default and task-specific networks of the human brain |
| title_sort | differential synchronization in default and task specific networks of the human brain |
| topic | gamma band default network task-specific network neural synchronization oscillatory power theta band |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00139/full |
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