Cortical neuronal assemblies coordinate with EEG microstate dynamics during resting wakefulness

The disruption of cortical assembly activity has been associated with anesthesia-induced loss of conscious-ness. However, the relationship between cortical assembly activity and the variations in consciousness associated with natural vigilance states remains unclear. Here, we address this by performing vigilance state-specific clustering analysis on 2-photon calcium imaging data from the sensorimotor cortex in combi-nation with global electroencephalogram (EEG) microstate analysis derived from multi-EEG signals obtained over widespread cortical locations. We report no difference in the structure of assembly activity during quiet wakefulness (QW), non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMs), or REMs, despite the latter two vigilance states being associated with significantly reduced levels of consciousness relative to QW. However, we describe a significant coordination between global EEG microstate dynamics and general local cortical assembly activ-ity during periods of QW, but not sleep. These results suggest that the coordination of cortical assembly ac-tivity with global brain dynamics could be a key factor of sustained conscious experience.

Automated summary

A study found no difference in the structure of assembly activity in the sensorimotor cortex during awake, non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMs), or rapid eye movement sleep (REMs), despite the latter two states being associated with reduced consciousness. However, there was a significant coordination between global electroencephalogram (EEG) microstate dynamics and local cortical assembly activity during periods of wakefulness, but not during sleep.