The brain and its resting state activity-Experimental and methodological implications

Despite all the recent progress in neuroscience we still do not understand the basic principles according to which the brain functions This may be due at least in part to our lack of knowledge how the brain s intrinsic activity the brain s input impacts stimulus-induced changes in the brain We here discuss the neuronal experimental and methodological relevance of the brain s resting state activity for future studies Furthermore we make several suggestions how to best define and include the brain s resting state into our experimental designs We conclude that experimental consideration of the brain s resting state has major implications for setting up experimental designs and methodological strategies This may also shed new light on some hitherto unresolved questions like the neuroscientific mechanisms underlying consciousness and psychiatric disorders Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved