Emergence of cortical travelling waves driven by direction of travelling waves in the hippocampus
Poster No:
1183
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Anna Behler1, Richa Phogat2, Nikitas Koussis3, James Shine4, Michael Breakspear2
Institutions:
1The University of Newcastle, Challaghan, NSW, 2The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 3University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 4The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Dynamic interactions between subcortical structures and cortical regions are critical for cognitive functions. Notably, the connection between the hippocampus and cortex plays a key role in memory encoding and retrieval, with both areas exhibiting oscillatory activity characterized by the propagation of travelling waves (Roberts et al., 2019; Zhang & Jacobs, 2015). However, the mechanisms of wave-wave interactions that support the integration of these regions remain poorly understood. This study investigates hippocampal waves and their interactions with the cortex using computational approaches.
Methods:
In this study, we used biophysically informed non-linear neural mass models, i.e., Jansen-Rit columns, to simulate neural activity on hippocampal and cortical meshes derived from the Freesurfer average subject. Jansen-Rit columns were place on all vertices of both meshes and, within the hippocampus and cortex, they were coupled via an exponential distance rule, while inter-system coupling was implemented as spare one-to-one coupling using a projection of a hippocampal functional gradient observed during a memory task onto the cortex (Borne et al., 2023). To characterise wave behaviour, we conducted parameter sweeps and examined global coherence, phase velocity, and wave propagation patterns through singular vector decomposition of flow potential time series.
Results:
Our simulations revealed that traveling waves emerge along the hippocampal long axis when a small anterior-to-posterior gradient in external input to pyramidal neurons is introduced. The wavefront direction and phase velocity were determined by the gradient magnitude and the oscillation frequency (slow or fast theta). Coupling the hippocampus to the cortex revealed that hippocampal waves can induce cortical wavefronts, but the interaction is strongly frequency- and direction-dependent (Fig. 1). For example, anterior-to-posterior hippocampal traveling waves at fast theta frequencies drive cortical waves with a dominant wave source at the rostral pole of the prefrontal cortex. In contrast, reversing the direction of hippocampal waves failed to induce cortical wave propagation.
Conclusions:
These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying travelling wave dynamics and their role in the emergence of cortical waves. This work provides a computational framework and testable models for future investigations into cognitive processes and the pathophysiology of memory-related neurodegenerative disorders.
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Connectivity (eg. functional, effective, structural) 1
Other Methods
Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:
Microcircuitry and Modules
Subcortical Structures 2
Keywords:
Computational Neuroscience
Modeling
Sub-Cortical
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Abstract Information
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Roberts, J. A., Gollo, L. L., Abeysuriya, R. G., Roberts, G., Mitchell, P. B., Woolrich, M. W., & Breakspear, M. (2019). Metastable brain waves. Nature Communications, 10(1), 1056. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08999-0
Zhang, H., & Jacobs, J. (2015). Traveling Theta Waves in the Human Hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(36), 12477–12487. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5102-14.2015