Fig. 9. Distribution of neuronal groups on the simulated cortical surface. Five corresponding time points, starting at 1,000 s into the “test” epoch, are shown for baseline and combined γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABA^A) potentiation and input frequency reduction (500%/41.6%). Each image is akin to a 100-ms, time-lapse photo showing all groups that have been active during the period in which the shutter is open (red bars on axis ). The gray lines  in each image represent the spherical surface of the cortical network. Within each image, lines of the same color connect neurons that are firing as part of the same polychronous group; colors are allocated randomly to allow visual discrimination between groups. At baseline, multiple polychronous groups are active at each time point and often coalesce to form larger assemblies. Under the simulated effects of propofol, group activation is infrequent and usually solitary, consistent with data shown in Fig. 7. This finding suggests that propofol mediates a loss of network information-carrying capacity, and this may be consistent with loss of consciousness.