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Review
. 2013 Oct 15:80:387-96.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.067. Epub 2013 May 24.

Sleep and the functional connectome

Dante Picchioni  1 , Jeff H Duyn, Silvina G Horovitz
Affiliations
Review

Sleep and the functional connectome

Dante Picchioni et al. Neuroimage. .

Abstract

Sleep and the functional connectome are research areas with considerable overlap. Neuroimaging studies of sleep based on EEG-PET and EEG-fMRI are revealing the brain networks that support sleep, as well as networks that may support the roles and processes attributed to sleep. For example, phenomena such as arousal and consciousness are substantially modulated during sleep, and one would expect this modulation to be reflected in altered network activity. In addition, recent work suggests that sleep also has a number of adaptive functions that support waking activity. Thus the study of sleep may elucidate the circuits and processes that support waking function and complement information obtained from fMRI during waking conditions. In this review, we will discuss examples of this for memory, arousal, and consciousness after providing a brief background on sleep and on studying it with fMRI.

Keywords: Arousal; Connectivity; Consciousness; Memory; Sleep.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Networks that undergo changes during sleep Top left (A): arousal network Arousal modulations during sleep are under the control of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) and its projections. Modulary control is effectuated by a variety of neurotransmitters (see section “brain circuits that support sleep”). Top right (B): memory network A model for hippocampal-cortical connections associated with memory storage and consolidtion. During wakefulness, the dominat information flow is from neocortex to hippocampus (red lines). During N3, there is a putative reversal of this information flow (black lines), which is effectuated by modulatory cholinergic influences. Bottom (C): consciousness network During wakefulness, substantial connectivity is observed between DMN nodes (red) and between thalamus (blue) and cortex. During N3, the frontal node of the DMN reduces it connectivity with the rest of the network. In addition, thalamocortical connectivity is reduced. HIST = histamine; 5-HT = serotonin; NA = noradrenaline; ACh = acetylchone. IPL:inferior parietal lobule
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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