Dynamical structure-function correlations provide robust and generalizable signatures of consciousness in humans

Abstract

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging evolves through a repertoire of functional connectivity patterns which might reflect ongoing cognition, as well as the contents of conscious awareness. We investigated whether the dynamic exploration of these states can provide robust and generalizable markers for the state of consciousness in human participants, across loss of consciousness induced by general anaesthesia or slow wave sleep. Generalizability refers to the capacity to successfully detect consciousness markers in different datasets obtained using heterogeneous acquisition parameters and under potentially divergent experimental conditions. Currently, few papers explicitly address these two requirements, especially in combination. This represents an important obstacle, both for the study of fundamental principles underlying consciousness, and for the translation to the clinics.