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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.15.670484

E/I ratio and net E+I strength are differentially affected across brain disorders

Avramiea, A.-E.·Diachenko, M.·Westbrook, A.·Hardstone, R.·Mansvelder, H. D.·Bruining, H.·Linkenkaer-Hansen, K.
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Abstract

Neuronal oscillations wax and wane near criticality, switching between high- and low-power states. However, the link between this bistability and excitation-inhibition balance is not well understood. Using a computational model, we demonstrate that bistability is influenced by two key factors: the excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) ratio and the combined strength of excitatory and inhibitory activity (E+I). We developed algorithms to infer both metrics from electrophysiological data and validated them in vivo. In intracranial recordings from epilepsy patients, both E/I and E+I increased during seizures, while interictally, E+I remained elevated in seizure zones as E/I decreased--consistent with compensatory inhibition. Extending the framework to scalp EEG from eight disorders, we found that Alzheimers disease is better classified by E/I changes, whereas autism spectrum disorder and ADHD are distinguished by E+I alterations. Our findings highlight the importance of bistability in understanding EI regulation and offer handles for diagnostic and treatment decision support.

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Avramiea, A.-E., Diachenko, M., Westbrook, A., Hardstone, R., Mansvelder, H. D., Bruining, H., Linkenkaer-Hansen, K.. 2025-08-15. E/I ratio and net E+I strength are differentially affected across brain disorders. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.15.670484

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