The modulation of neural gain facilitates a transition between functional segregation and integration in the brain

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Abstract

Cognitive function relies on a dynamic, context-sensitive balance between functional integration and segregation in the brain. Previous work has proposed that this balance is mediated by global fluctuations in neural gain by projections from ascending neuromodulatory nuclei. To test this hypothesis in silico, we studied the effects of neural gain on network dynamics in a model of large-scale neuronal dynamics. We found that increases in neural gain directed the network through an abrupt dynamical transition, leading to an integrated network topology that was maximal in frontoparietal 'rich club' regions. This gain-mediated transition was also associated with increased topological complexity, as well as increased variability in time-resolved topological structure, further highlighting the potential computational benefits of the gain-mediated network transition. These results support the hypothesis that neural gain modulation has the computational capacity to mediate the balance between integration and segregation in the brain.

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James M Shine

Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States

For correspondence
mac.shine@sydney.edu.au

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0003-1762-5499
Matthew J Aburn

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Michael Breakspear

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Russell Poldrack

Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States

For correspondence
poldrack@stanford.edu

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-6755-0259

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1072403)

James M Shine

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

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This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.