Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Neural Desynchronization in Sleeplike States Reveals Critical Dynamics

Sleep is characterized by nonrapid eye movement sleep, originating from widespread neuronal synchrony, and rapid eye movement sleep, with neuronal desynchronization akin to waking behavior. While these were thought to be global brain states, recent research suggests otherwise. Using time-frequency analysis of mesoscopic voltage-sensitive dye recordings of mice in a urethane-anesthetized model of sleep, we find transient neural desynchronization occurring heterogeneously across the cortex within a background of synchronized neural activity, in a manner reminiscent of a critical spreading process and indicative of an "edge-of-synchronization" phase transition.