Characterization of K-Complexes and Slow Wave Activity in a Neural Mass Model

Abstract

NREM sleep is characterized by two hallmarks, namely K-complexes (KCs) during sleep stage N2 and cortical slow oscillations (SOs) during sleep stage N3. While the underlying dynamics on the neuronal level is well known and can be easily measured, the resulting behavior on the macroscopic population level remains unclear. On the basis of an extended neural mass model of the cortex, we suggest a new interpretation of the mechanisms responsible for the generation of KCs and SOs. As the cortex transitions from wake to deep sleep, in our model it approaches an oscillatory regime via a Hopf bifurcation. Importantly, there is a canard phenomenon arising from a homoclinic bifurcation, whose orbit determines the shape of large amplitude SOs. A KC corresponds to a single excursion along the homoclinic orbit, while SOs are noise-driven oscillations around a stable focus. The model generates both time series and spectra that strikingly resemble real electroencephalogram data and points out possible differences between the different stages of natural sleep.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003923
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Additional Information: © 2014 Weigenand et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics,Modelling and Simulation,Ecology,Molecular Biology,Genetics,Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience,Computational Theory and Mathematics
Publication ISSN: 1553-7358
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2024 08:15
Date Deposited: 14 May 2018 13:05
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2014-11-01
Authors: Weigenand, Arne
Schellenberger Costa, Michael
Ngo, Hong Viet Victor
Claussen, Jens Christian (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-9870-4924)
Martinetz, Thomas

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