Unveiling the Neural Circuits Behind Consciousness Loss

A brain imaging study has identified two neural circuits crucial for consciousness by studying patients with disorders of consciousness and healthy volunteers. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe how external perturbations propagate through the brain in different states of reduced consciousness. They found that patients with disorders of consciousness had malfunctioning neural circuits that failed to convey and integrate information properly, leading to a lack of consciousness. In healthy individuals, specific brain regions were responsible for broadcasting and receiving information, while in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, the brain's ability to transmit and integrate information was severely impaired. The study provides insights into the mechanisms behind consciousness and could help improve treatment for patients with disorders of consciousness.