Abstract

One of the most pressing health issues of the 21st century is brain disease, which necessitates the development of novel, more efficient treatments.In order to treat a disease, neuromodulation is an excellent method for altering the activity of various neuronal regions.The idea that deficiencies in systems-level structures like brain waves and neural topology are the root cause of neurological disorders has led to an increase in the number of medical indications for neuromodulation therapy.Based on patterns of synchronization among neuronal populations, it is hypothesized that connections between neuronal regions fluidly form and then dissolve again.In comas and seizures, respectively, similar hypersynchronization and igniting of the brain's activity can occur.This is like a fire that can either get bigger or go out completely.Interestingly, however, in a critical state where neuronal activity maneuvers local and global operational modes, the healthy brain remains tucked in between these extremes.Although it has been suggested that disruptions in this criticality may be the root cause of neuropathologies like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and vegetative states, no significant translational impact has yet been achieved.Recent computational findings presented in this hypothesis article demonstrate that the critical regime is maintained by a neural network's short- and long-range connections in distinct but manageable ways.Long-range connections determine the scope of the neuronal processes, whereas shortrange connections shape the dynamics of neuronal activity.Therefore, we introduce topological and dynamical system concepts within the criticality framework and discuss the implications and possibilities of therapeutic neuromodulation guided by topological decompositions to facilitate translational progress.

Keywords: Criticality; Small World; Neural Network; Simulations; Neuromodulation; Therapy; Self-Organized Criticality; Oscillations; Brain Waves; Translational; Tms; Tdcs; Dbs; Vns