University Hospital
Geneva, Switzerland
Guest Lecturer: Network communication in behavior and disease
Wednesday, September 5
12:00 pm-1:30 pm
BPS 1142
Abstract: The brain is a network of massively interconnected
processing elements. Recent advances in functional imaging provide
first insights into neural communication among network nodes.
Spontaneous fluctuations of brain activity at rest are highly
organized and coherent within specific neuro-anatomical systems.
Network function can therefore also be assessed from resting-state
recordings, which is of particular advantage in patients with brain
disease who are often unable to perform tasks. The magnitude of
coherence within a network at rest is highly correlated with
performance in tasks dependent on this network, thus demonstrating its
behavioral relevance. Brain pathologies such as tumors, stroke, and
Alzheimer’s disease induce a disruption of network coherence, but also
adaptive increases in network coherence related to repair and
preserved task performance. Network imaging thus opens an exciting and
accessible window to the intrinsic brain organization with numerous
applications in clinical practice as well as for the understanding of
brain physiology and plasticity.
To learn more about Dr. Guggisberg and his work go to:
http://neurocenter.unige.ch/groups/guggisberg.php
