We apply techniques from the field of computational mechanics to evaluate the statistical complexity of neural recording data in fruit flies. We connect statistical complexity to the flies' level of conscious arousal, which is manipulated by general anaesthesia (isoflurane). We show that the complexity of even single channel time series data decreases under anaesthesia . The observed difference in complexity between the two states of conscious arousal increases as higher orders of temporal correlations are taken into account.  In contrast to prior work, our results show that complexity differences can emerge at very short time scales and across broad regions of the fly brain without the need to saturate Markov order , thus heralding the macroscopic state of anaesthesia in a previously unforeseen manner . Furthering the links between physics, complexity science and neuroscience promotes the understanding of the physical basis that supports the level of conscious arousal in URLanisms .
We apply techniques from the field of computational mechanics to evaluate the statistical complexity of neural recording data from fruit flies. First, we connect statistical complexity to the flies' level of conscious arousal, which is manipulated by general anesthesia (isoflurane). We show that the complexity of even single channel time series data decreases under anesthesia . The observed difference in complexity between the two states of conscious arousal increases as higher orders of temporal correlations are taken into account. We then go on to show that, in addition to reducing complexity, anesthesia also modulates the informational structure between the forward- and reverse-time neural signals. Specifically, using three distinct notions of temporal asymmetry we show that anesthesia reduces temporal asymmetry on information-theoretic and information-geometric grounds. In contrast to prior work, our results show that : (1) Complexity differences can emerge at very short timescales and across broad regions of the fly brain , thus heralding the macroscopic state of anesthesia in a previously unforeseen manner , and (2) that general anesthesia also modulates the temporal asymmetry of neural signals. Together, our results demonstrate that anesthetized brains become both less structured and more reversible .
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First, we
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anaesthesia
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We then go on to show that, in addition to reducing complexity, anesthesia also modulates the informational structure between the forward- and reverse-time neural signals. Specifically, using three distinct notions of temporal asymmetry we show that anesthesia reduces temporal asymmetry on information-theoretic and information-geometric grounds.
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: (1) Complexity
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without the need to saturate Markov order
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. Furthering the links between physics, complexity science and neuroscience promotes the understanding of the physical basis that supports the level of conscious arousal in URLanisms
, and (2) that general anesthesia also modulates the temporal asymmetry of neural signals. Together, our results demonstrate that anesthetized brains become both less structured and more reversible