In this project we plan to investigate the main shortcomings in the approach of detecting linear correlations and standard nonlinear techniques as mutual information. Bringing together several groups with expertise in computational neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, neurophysiology, coupled laser systems and complex networks in general, we address the following questions: ‘Can strong causal relationships among cortical areas be underestimated or even completely missed by the approach of linear correlations and mutual information?’ and ‘Can we find physiological evidence for the appearance of generalized synchronization in the mammalian brain’?