Key Brain Gateway to Conscious Perception Identified
A new study using intracranial recordings in humans reveals that the thalamus, particularly its higher-order regions, plays a central role in triggering conscious perception. By monitoring brain activity during a visual task, researchers found that the intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei activated before the prefrontal cortex, suggesting the thalamus initiates conscious awareness. This thalamus-to-cortex signal synchronization challenges the traditional view that cortical regions alone are the seat of perception. These findings deepen our understanding of how brain circuits give rise to consciousness and highlight a vital role for subcortical structures. ….[READ]
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