Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics
Abstract Brain dynamics can be simulated using virtual brain models, in which a standard mathematical representation of oscillatory activity is usually adopted for all cortical and subcortical regions. However, some brain regions have specific microcircuit properties that are not recapitulated by st...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | npj Systems Biology and Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00543-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839648087270752256 |
|---|---|
| author | Roberta Maria Lorenzi Fulvia Palesi Claudia Casellato Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Egidio D’Angelo |
| author_facet | Roberta Maria Lorenzi Fulvia Palesi Claudia Casellato Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Egidio D’Angelo |
| author_sort | Roberta Maria Lorenzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Brain dynamics can be simulated using virtual brain models, in which a standard mathematical representation of oscillatory activity is usually adopted for all cortical and subcortical regions. However, some brain regions have specific microcircuit properties that are not recapitulated by standard oscillators. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based connectomes may not be able to capture local circuit connectivity. Region-specific models incorporating computational properties of local neurons and microcircuits have recently been generated using the mean field (MF) approach and proposed to impact large-scale brain dynamics. Here, we have used a MF of the cerebellar cortex to generate a mesoscopic model of the whole cerebellum featuring a prewired connectivity of multiple cerebellar cortical areas with deep cerebellar nuclei. This multi-node cerebellar MF was then used to substitute the corresponding standard oscillators and build up a cerebellar mean field virtual brain (cMF-TVB) for a group of healthy human subjects. Simulations revealed that electrophysiological and fMRI signals generated by the cMF-TVB significantly improved the fitness of local and global dynamics with respect to a homogeneous model made solely of standard oscillators. The cMF-TVB reproduced the rhythmic oscillations and coherence typical of the cerebellar circuit and allowed to correlate electrophysiological and functional MRI signals to specific neuronal populations. In aggregate, region-specific models based on MF and pre-wired circuit connectivity can significantly improve virtual brain simulations, fostering the generation of effective brain digital twins that could be used for physiological studies and clinical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f77f55a712d54770a5fc052a018daf9c |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2056-7189 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Systems Biology and Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-f77f55a712d54770a5fc052a018daf9c2025-06-29T11:12:31ZengNature Portfolionpj Systems Biology and Applications2056-71892025-06-0111111910.1038/s41540-025-00543-9Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamicsRoberta Maria Lorenzi0Fulvia Palesi1Claudia Casellato2Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott3Egidio D’Angelo4Department of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of PaviaDepartment of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of PaviaDepartment of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of PaviaDepartment of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of PaviaDepartment of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of PaviaAbstract Brain dynamics can be simulated using virtual brain models, in which a standard mathematical representation of oscillatory activity is usually adopted for all cortical and subcortical regions. However, some brain regions have specific microcircuit properties that are not recapitulated by standard oscillators. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based connectomes may not be able to capture local circuit connectivity. Region-specific models incorporating computational properties of local neurons and microcircuits have recently been generated using the mean field (MF) approach and proposed to impact large-scale brain dynamics. Here, we have used a MF of the cerebellar cortex to generate a mesoscopic model of the whole cerebellum featuring a prewired connectivity of multiple cerebellar cortical areas with deep cerebellar nuclei. This multi-node cerebellar MF was then used to substitute the corresponding standard oscillators and build up a cerebellar mean field virtual brain (cMF-TVB) for a group of healthy human subjects. Simulations revealed that electrophysiological and fMRI signals generated by the cMF-TVB significantly improved the fitness of local and global dynamics with respect to a homogeneous model made solely of standard oscillators. The cMF-TVB reproduced the rhythmic oscillations and coherence typical of the cerebellar circuit and allowed to correlate electrophysiological and functional MRI signals to specific neuronal populations. In aggregate, region-specific models based on MF and pre-wired circuit connectivity can significantly improve virtual brain simulations, fostering the generation of effective brain digital twins that could be used for physiological studies and clinical applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00543-9 |
| spellingShingle | Roberta Maria Lorenzi Fulvia Palesi Claudia Casellato Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Egidio D’Angelo Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics npj Systems Biology and Applications |
| title | Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| title_full | Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| title_short | Region-specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| title_sort | region specific mean field models enhance simulations of local and global brain dynamics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00543-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertamarialorenzi regionspecificmeanfieldmodelsenhancesimulationsoflocalandglobalbraindynamics AT fulviapalesi regionspecificmeanfieldmodelsenhancesimulationsoflocalandglobalbraindynamics AT claudiacasellato regionspecificmeanfieldmodelsenhancesimulationsoflocalandglobalbraindynamics AT claudiaamgandiniwheelerkingshott regionspecificmeanfieldmodelsenhancesimulationsoflocalandglobalbraindynamics AT egidiodangelo regionspecificmeanfieldmodelsenhancesimulationsoflocalandglobalbraindynamics |