Multi-area neural mass modeling of EEG and MEG signals

We previously proposed an integrated electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) model based on an extended neural mass model (ENMM) within a single cortical area. In the ENMM, a cortical area contains several minicolumns where strengths of their connections diminish exponentially with their distances. The ENMM was derived based on the physiological principles of the cortical minicolumns and their connections within a single cortical area to generate EEG, MEG, and fMRI signals. The purpose of this paper is to further extend the ENMM model from a single-area to a multi-area model to develop a neural mass model of the entire brain that generates EEG and MEG signals. For multi-area modeling, two connection types are considered: short-range connections (SRCs) and long-range connections (LRCs). The intra-area SRCs among the minicolumns within the areas were previously modeled in the ENMM. To define inter-area LRCs among the cortical areas, we consider that the cell populations of all minicolumns in the destination area are affected by the excitatory afferent of the pyramidal cells of all minicolumns in the source area. The state-space representation of the multi-area model is derived considering the intra-minicolumn, SRCs', and LRCs' parameters. Using simulations, we evaluate effects of parameters of the model on its dynamics and, based on stability analysis, find valid ranges for parameters of the model. In addition, we evaluate reducing redundancy of the model parameters using simulation results and conclude that the parameters of the model can be limited to the LRCs and SRCs while the intra-minicolumn parameters stay at their physiological mean values. The proposed multi-area integrated E/MEG model provides an efficient neuroimaging technique for effective connectivity analysis in healthy subjects as well as neurological and psychiatric patients.