In-silico Exploration of Mouse Brain Dynamics by Stimulation explains Functional Networks and Sensory Processing

Sensory and direct stimulation of the brain probes its functional repertoire and the information processing capacity of networks. However, a systematic exploration can only be performed in silico. Stimulation takes the system out of its attractor states and samples the environment of the flow to gain insight into the stability and multiplicity of trajectories. It is the only means of obtaining a complete understanding of the healthy brain networks dynamic properties. We built a whole mouse brain model with connectivity derived from tracer studies. We systematically varied the stimulation location, the ratio of long- to short-range interactions, and the range of short connections. Functional networks appeared in the spatial motifs of simulated brain activity. Several motifs included the default mode network, suggesting a junction of functional networks. The model explains processing in sensory systems and replicates the in vivo dynamics after stimulation without parameter tuning, emphasizing the role of connectivity.