Xiaolin Liu1, Jingsheng Zhou2,
Anthony G. Hudetz3, Shi-Jiang Li1
1Biophysics, Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 2Rehabilitation
Department, Xuanwu Hospital Capital
Medical University, Beijing, China; 3Anesthesiology, Medical
College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Understanding
the neural mechanisms of consciousness requires identification of the nature
of contributions from each of the potential neural correlates, which together
generate a complete cognitive experience. We examined the specific and
nonspecific thalamic connections in the brain based on the neuroanatomical findings
implicating their respective functional roles in sustaining information and
integration, which are essential to consciousness. Our results endorse the
view that the thalamocortical system is essential to consciousness, and
support the hypothesis that the nonspecific thalamic connections largely
reflect brain regions that are responsible for information integration,
potentially sustaining various awareness functions.
Keywords