Sensitive dynamics of brain cognitive networks and its resource constraints

Abstract

It is well known that brain functions are closely related to the synchronization of brain networks, but the underlying mechanisms are still not completely understood. To study this problem, we here focus on the synchronization of cognitive networks, in contrast to that of a global brain network, as individual brain functions are in fact performed by different cognitive networks but not the global network. In detail, we consider four different levels of brain networks and two approaches, i.e., either with or without resource constraints. For the case of without resource constraints, we find that global brain networks have fundamentally different behaviors from that of the cognitive networks; i.e., the former has a continuous synchronization transition, while the latter shows a novel transition of oscillatory synchronization. This feature of oscillation comes from the sparse links among the communities of cognitive networks, resulting in coupling sensitive dynamics of brain cognitive networks. While for the case of resource constraints, we find that at the global level, the synchronization transition becomes explosive, in contrast to the continuous synchronization for the case of without resource constraints. At the level of cognitive networks, the transition also becomes explosive and the coupling sensitivity is significantly reduced, thus guaranteeing the robustness and fast switch of brain functions. Moreover, a brief theoretical analysis is provided.