Recurrent activity in neuronal avalanches

A new statistical analysis of large neuronal avalanches observed in mouse and rat brain tissues reveals a substantial degree of recurrent activity and cyclic patterns of activation not seen in smaller avalanches. To explain these observations, we adapted a model of structural weakening in materials. In this model, dynamical weakening of neuron firing thresholds closely replicates experimental avalanche size distributions, firing number distributions, and patterns of cyclic activity. This agreement between model and data suggests that a mechanism like dynamical weakening plays a key role in recurrent activity found in large neuronal avalanches. We expect these results to illuminate the causes and dynamics of large avalanches, like those seen in seizures.

Automated summary

A statistical analysis of large neuronal avalanches in mouse and rat brain tissues reveals recurrent activity and cyclic patterns of activation, unlike smaller avalanches. By adapting a model of structural weakening in materials, it is found that dynamical weakening of neuron firing thresholds closely replicates experimental observations. This suggests that dynamical weakening plays a crucial role in the recurrent activity of large neuronal avalanches, providing insights into the causes and dynamics of conditions such as seizures.