PhD Scientific Days 2021

NE_II_L: Neurosciences II. Lectures

Network Path Convergence Shapes Low-Level Processing in the Visual Cortex

Előadó neve

Mr. Varga, Bálint

Előadó munkahelye

Wigner Research Centre for Physics

Előadó telefonszáma

+36306675212

Előadó e-mail címe

balint225@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Network Path Convergence Shapes Low-Level Processing in the Visual Cortex

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Bálint Varga12, László Négyessy1 and Zoltán Somogyvári1
1 Computational Neuroscience and Complex Systems Research Group, Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest
2 János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Neurosciences II. Lectures

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Neurosciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction
Cognition emerges by counterstream feedforward and feedback interactions in the large-scale, hierarchical network of the cerebral cortex. Although cortical dynamics are rooted in the anatomical network, the relationship of structure and function is far from clear. The counterstream, as a topological feature of the network, is captured by the convergence and divergence of paths through directed links. So defined, the convergence degree (CD) reveals the reciprocal nature of forward and backward connections, and also hierarchically relevant integrative properties of areas.

Aims
To understand how topology shapes large-scale cortical functioning, and what is the relationship between anatomical (determined by the laminar distribution of connections), topological (defined by CD) and functional (determined by causal coupling) hierarchies.

Methods
We used CD to characterize the topology of signal flow properties and implemented an oscillating neural mass model of hierarchical network dynamics. Functional connectivity was computed by spectral Granger causality. Relationships of topology and dynamics were studied via correlations.

Results
Similar to anatomical hierarchy, CD-based topological hierarchy showed high correlation with causal coupling in feedforward gamma and feedback alpha-beta band synchronizations in a subnetwork including low-level visual cortical areas. In contrast, causal coupling did not correlate with edge betweenness, another measure of the importance of network links. Considering the entire network, the CD-based hierarchy correlated well with both the anatomical and functional hierarchy for low-level areas that are hierarchically far apart. Conversely, in a large part of the anatomical network where hierarchical distances are small, correlations were not significant.

Conclusion
These findings indicate that at lower levels of cortical hierarchy interareal connectivity closely shapes large-scale oscillatory dynamics. However, at higher levels hierarchy is not strictly determined, allowing for a flexibility in hierarchical interactions needed to cope with varying demands.

Funding
This work was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA); Grant Numbers: NN118902 and K135837, the Wigner RCP and the Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH).

University and Doctoral School

Semmelweis University, János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences

Supervisor

László Négyessy, PhD and Zoltán Somogyvári, PhD

Publication of my abstract

I give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

6138

Start

17:00

End

17:15

Authors (legacy)

Bálint Varga12, László Négyessy1 and Zoltán Somogyvári1
1 Computational Neuroscience and Complex Systems Research Group, Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest
2 János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest