Intrinsic neural timescales attenuate information transfer along the uni-transmodal hierarchy

Abstract The brain’s intrinsic timescales are organized in a hierarchy with shorter timescales in sensory regions and longer ones in associative regions. This timescale hierarchy overlaps with the timing demands of sensory information. Our question was how does this timescale hierarchy affect information transfer. We used a model of the timescale hierarchy based on connected excitatory and inhibitory populations across the cortex. We found that a hierarchy of information transfer follows the hierarchy of timescales with higher information transfer in sensory areas while it is lower in associative regions. Probing the effect of changes in timescale hierarchy on information transfer, we changed various model parameters which all, through, the loss of hierarchy, induced increased information transfer. Finally, the steepness of the timescale hierarchy relates negatively to total information transfer. Human MEG data confirmed our results. In sum, we demonstrate a key role of the brain’s timescale hierarchy in mediating information transfer.