The spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain have an essential role in how we perceive, decide and behave. Interacting spiral waves are now seen, from functional magnetic resonance imaging brain recordings, to serve as a mechanism for organizing spatiotemporal activity across the whole cortex. Further, these waves enable flexible reconfiguration of task-driven brain activity.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Raichle, M. E. et al. A default mode of brain function. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 98, 676–682 (2001). This paper reports the existence of an organized, baseline mode of brain function.
Muller, L., Chavane, F., Reynolds, J. & Sejnowski, T. J. Cortical travelling waves: Mechanisms and computational principles. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 19, 255–268 (2018). This review provides evidence of cortical travelling waves and their potential roles in brain function.
Townsend, R. G. & Gong, P. Detection and analysis of spatiotemporal patterns in brain activity. PLoS Comput. Biol. 14, e1006643 (2018). This article presents a methodological framework for the identification and analysis of multiple classes of wave patterns in neural population recordings.
Huang, X. et al. Spiral wave dynamics in neocortex. Neuron 68, 978–990 (2010). This paper reports spiral waves in mesoscopic neural circuits.
Logothetis, N. K., Pauls, J., Augath, M., Trinath, T. & Oeltermann, A. Neurophysiological investigation of the basis of the fMRI signal. Nature 412, 150–157 (2001). This paper discusses the relationship between fMRI signals and underlying neural activity.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Xu, Y. et al. Interacting spiral wave patterns underlie complex brain dynamics and are related to cognitive processing. Nat. Hum. Behav. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01626-5 (2023).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Interacting spiral waves organize brain dynamics and have functional correlates to cognition. Nat Hum Behav 7, 1044–1045 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01628-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01628-3