A Cellular Automaton Model for the generation of Brainwaves

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 2D cellular automaton model that simulates brainwave patterns and sleep-related EEG signals by using local pacemakers that synchronize activity across the network.

Contribution

The model is a novel cellular automaton approach that reproduces brain oscillations and sleep EEG features through spontaneously ignited pacemakers and propagation mechanisms.

Findings

Reproduces EEG oscillations during sleep.

Simulates local field potential time series.

Demonstrates synchronization via pacemakers.

Abstract

We describe a cellular-automaton based, two-dimensional (2D) lattice model which generates global oscillations in the EEG spectrum as well as time series of local field potentials resembling those observed during slow wave sleep. This is made possible by the presence of pacemakers (local oscillators) which can be spontaneously ignited and whose activity propagates through space to synchronize all connected nodes.