Networks of physiologic interactions between brain areas and key organ systems during different physiologic states.

<p>Brain areas are represented by Frontal (Fp1 and Fp2), Central (C3 and C4) and Occipital (O1 and O2) EEG channels. Interactions between brain channels and organ systems are represented by weighted undirected graphs. The size of each organ node in the network is proportional to the strength of the overall brain-organ interaction as measured by the summation of the TDS links strength for all frequency bands and EEG channel locations. The color of each organ node corresponds to the dominant frequency band in the coupling of the organ system with the brain. The width of each link reflects the strength of dynamic coupling as measured by %TDS, and colors of the links correspond to the colors of the nodes representing the different frequency bands (color bars). Plotted are only links with strength ≥3%TDS. Thicker links correspond to stronger coupling and higher time delay stability. The physiological network exhibits transitions across sleep stages—lowest number of links during DS, higher during REM, and highest during LS and W. For different organs, brain-organ interactions are mediated through different dominant frequency bands, e.g., the chin and the leg are predominantly coupled to the brain through the high-frequency <i>γ</i>₂ band during all sleep stages whereas brain-eye network interactions are mediated mainly through low-frequency <i>δ</i> band. The complex networks of dynamic interactions between key organ systems and the brain undergoes a hierarchical reorganization across different sleep stages, indicating a previously unknown mechanism of regulation.