The Tunable Brain

Abstract

This chapter introduces some elementary entrainment concepts such as phase space, phase portrait, bifurcation, and attractors. Limit cycle oscillations are introduced. It also provides a simplified overview of cortical activities in the human brain. It introduces concepts related to the synchrony between a pair of oscillations (endogenous entrainment), including examples of mode-locking synchronicities. Furthermore, it discusses the possibility of synchronous activities among whole configurations of cortical oscillations. The main aim of this chapter is to show the potential of brain oscillations to entrain to one another in various ways (modes of synchrony). Hence, a variety of forms of endogenous entrainment are discussed. Finally, the concept of attractors as abstract states of synchrony to which neighboring nonsynchronous states are drawn is introduced.