Human high-order thalamic nuclei gate conscious perception through the thalamofrontal loop
Researchers investigated the neural basis of conscious perception using intracranial recordings in humans. They discovered that the intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei (imTha) exhibit early and strong activity linked to consciousness, acting as a “gate” that drives information to the prefrontal cortex. This supports the idea that the thalamofrontal loop is essential for visual awareness and provides direct evidence for the thalamus’s role in the rapid emergence of conscious experience.
Researchers investigated the neural basis of conscious perception using intracranial recordings in humans. They discovered that the intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei (imTha) exhibit early and strong activity linked to consciousness, acting as a “gate” that drives information to the prefrontal cortex. This supports the idea that the thalamofrontal loop is essential for visual awareness and provides direct evidence for the thalamus’s role in the rapid emergence of conscious experience.
A new study published in Science has identified the thalamus as a central player in how humans become consciously aware of visual information. Researchers discovered that specific thalamic regions activate earlier and more strongly during moments of visual awareness, suggesting they act as a gateway for conscious perception.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have used the anesthetic drug propofol to identify the intricate brain geometry behind the unconscious state, offering an unprecedented look at brain structures that have traditionally been difficult to study.
