Analysis and Control of Phase-Amplitude Cluster Synchronization in Structural Brain Networks
Abstract
Understanding the relationships between the anatomical structure of the human brain and its functions in healthy and diseased states can not only lead to the design of targeted, non-invasive, and highly-effective treatments for neurological disorders, but also inform the application of innovative stimulation schemes to enhance cognitive performance and executive functions. In this project we pursue these objectives by studying the human brain as a dynamical network system comprising neuronal ensambles and white-matter fibers, and governed by principles similar to social and technological cyber-physical networks. This innovative perspective allows us to leverage network and control-theoretic tools to develop mechanistic and mathematically-supported theories explaining the spatial and temporal behavior brain dynamics, and algorithms to predict and control them. In this project we focus on oscillatory neural dynamics, and develop network-based mechanisms to characterize time-varying amplitude and phase coherency among different brain regions, control the emergence of desired synchronization patterns, and characterize the fundamental principles of information transfer and control in brain networks. The research is organized around the following main tasks, namely, (i) Network principles of time-varying phase-amplitude synchronization, where we study the underlying mechanisms of phase-amplitude cluster synchronization in networks of oscillators, (ii) Network control of phase-amplitude synchronization patterns, where we develop targeted mechanisms to control the emergence of a desired phase-amplitude synchronization pattern, and (iii) Network motifs for optimal information transfer and control, where we investigate the properties of brain networks that enable selective transient amplification in response to particular signals and states, and develop theories to explain why such behavior can degenerate to sporadic or sustained bursting, as observed in diseased states such as epilepsy. This project will help the military forces develop solutions to enhance cognitive performance of warfighters and restore mental functions following traumatic brain injury and persistent stress. Additionally, the developed methods will impact networked scenarios where sensing and actuation is sparse and constrained, such as the deployment of (semi)autonomous systems in networked, uncertain, dynamically changing and hostile environments. Although this project will focus on human brain networks, we expect the developed methods to have broad applicability across the natural sciences and engineering, particularly in applications that are constrained by sparse and sporadic sensing and actuation. The proposed research effort will be synergistically combined with education and outreach activities within UCR.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910360
Entities
People
- Fabio Pasqualetti
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of California, Riverside