Criticality in Neural Systems

Leading authorities in the field review current knowledge of critical behavior in brain function, both experimental and theoretical. The book begins by summarizing experimental evidence for self-organized criticality in the brain. Subsequently, recent breakthroughs in modeling of neuronal circuits to establish self-organized criticality are described. Finally, the importance of critical dynamics for brain function is highlighted.

4.13 The Middle Way: Mesoscopic Protectorates.

Criticality in Neural Systems; Contents; List of Contributors; Chapter 1 Introduction; 1.1 Criticality in Neural Systems; Chapter 2 Criticality in Cortex: Neuronal Avalanches and Coherence Potentials; 2.1 The Late Arrival of Critical Dynamics to the Study of Cortex Function; 2.1.1 Studying Critical Dynamics through Local Perturbations; 2.1.2 Principles in Cortex Design that Support Critical Neuronal Cascades; 2.2 Cortical Resting Activity Organizes as Neuronal Avalanches; 2.2.1 Unbiased Concatenation of Neuronal Activity into Spatiotemporal Patterns.

2.2.2 The Power Law in Avalanche Sizes with Slope of -3/22.2.3 Neuronal Avalanches are Specific to Superficial Layers of Cortex; 2.2.4 The Linking of Avalanche Size to Critical Branching; 2.3 Neuronal Avalanches: Cascades of Cascades; 2.4 The Statistics of Neuronal Avalanches and Earthquakes; 2.5 Neuronal Avalanches and Cortical Oscillations; 2.6 Neuronal Avalanches Optimize Numerous Network Functions; 2.7 The Coherence Potential: Threshold-Dependent Spread of Synchrony with High Fidelity; 2.8 The Functional Architecture of Neuronal Avalanches and Coherence Potentials; Acknowledgement.

3.4.1 fMRI as a Point Process3.4.2 A Phase Tran…