This project aims to establish the first comprehensive mechanistic account linking wake slow waves, cortical bistability, and attention lapses, advancing fundamental understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying human cognitive performance. Attention deficits are core symptoms of numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions, including depression, sleep disorders, and early-stage neurodegenerative diseases. Current treatments often lack precision because the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. By identifying objective neural markers of attention lapses, this research may contribute to improved diagnostic tools that detect attention impairments before they manifest behaviorally, personalized treatment approaches that target specific neural mechanisms rather than symptoms, and objective monitoring of treatment efficacy through neural biomarkers of cortical bistability. The TMS-EEG methodology developed in this project also has potential therapeutic applications. Understanding how different brain regions respond to stimulation across cognitive states may inform the development of targeted brain stimulation protocols for patients with pathological attention deficits. These findings may ultimately benefit patients whose quality of life is compromised by attention-related difficulties in work, education, and daily functioning.
