Activation by Attention of the Human Reticular Formation and Thalamic Intralaminar Nuclei

Kinomura, Shigeo; Larsson, Jonas; Gulyás, Balázs; Roland, Per E.

doi:10.1126/science.271.5248.512

Cited by 587 publications

(325 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…The right posterior parietal cortex is involved in attentional orientation to locations (PET: Corbetta et al, 1993;Nobre et al, 1997) and is considered critical for forming a multimodal sensory representation of the extrapersonal space (Mesu- lam, 1981). Earlier brain activation studies reported that the FEF and SMA (including SEF) are also involved in visuospatial attentional tasks (Nobre et al, 1997;Coull et al, 1996) and that the thalamus is implicated in sustained attention (PET: Kinomura et al, 1996;Paus et al, 1997). Furthermore, the anterior insula, which was also activated in our study, is involved in covert shifts of attention (Gitelman et al, 1999).…”

Section: An "Exteroceptive Mental State" (Eyes Open ͼ Eyes Closed)?supporting

confidence: 72%

Eye closure in darkness animates sensory systems

et al. 2003

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Single subject and group analyses (n ϭ 12) showed that the eyes-open and eyes-closed states in complete darkness considerably and consistently differ in the patterns of associated brain activation in fMRI. During nonchanging external stimulation, ocular motor and attentional systems were activated when the eyes were open; the visual, somatosensory, vestibular, and auditory systems were activated when the eyes were closed. These data suggest that there are two different states of mental activity: with the eyes closed, an "interoceptive" state characterized by imagination and multisensory activity and with the eyes open, an "exteroceptive" state characterized by attention and ocular motor activity. Our study also shows that the chosen baseline condition may have a considerable impact on activation patterns and on the interpretation of brain activation studies.

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Section: An "Exteroceptive Mental State" (Eyes Open ͼ Eyes Closed)?supporting

confidence: 72%

Eye closure in darkness animates sensory systems

et al. 2003

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“…52 In addition, the thalamus is an important relay centre for the reticular ascending system, which regulates arousal and alertness. [53][54][55] Thalamic perfusion is associated with alertness levels 25,56 and is substantially reduced during sleep. 26 The association with perfusion levels in the substantia innominata/ orbitofrontal cortex and the occipital calcarine cortex is also consistent with involvement of a network subserving alertness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CYP2D6 in the brain: genotype effects on resting brain perfusion

et al. 2010

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The cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a genetically polymorphic enzyme involved in the metabolism of several psychoactive drugs. Beside its expression in the liver, CYP2D6 is highly expressed in several regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus and the cortex, but its function in the brain is not well understood. The CYP2D6 enzyme may also have a physiological role due to its involvement in neurotransmitter biotransformation. In this study, CYP2D6 genotyping was performed in N = 188 healthy individuals and compared with brain perfusion levels at rest, which may reflect an ongoing biological process regulating the reactivity of the individual to emotional stimuli and the detection of signals evoking fear. Relative to N = 42 matched extensive metabolizers, N = 14 poor metabolizers were associated with 15% higher perfusion levels in the thalamus (P = 0.03 and 0.003). Effects were also present in the whole (N = 188) sample divided into metabolizer groups, or finely graded into seven CYP2D6 activity levels. A weaker effect was observed in the right hippocampus (P = 0.05). An exploratory analysis, extended to the whole brain, suggested the involvement of CYP2D6 in regions associated with alertness or serotonergic function. These findings support the hypothesis of a functional role of CYP2D6 in the brain.

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“…Since the intralaminar thalamic nuclei are particularly important to wakefulness (Kinomura et al, 1996;Steriade, 1996), their projections might be expected to be a primary driver of information processing in critical parts of the NNCC. At first blush, this does not seem to be the case.…”

Section: Anteroventral Thalamic Link Between Conscious Wakefulness and mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the entire forebrain is engaged to some extent in conscious information processing, there may be specific areas that are particularly crucial to consciousness. The midbrain reticular formation and its projections to the thalamic intralaminar nuclei establish and maintain wakefulness (Kinomura et al, 1996;Steriade, 1996) and postmortem assessments of the vegetative state show that damage to the dorsolateral midbrain and thalamus is a common feature in these cases (Kinney et al, 1994;Adams et al, 2000) and severe damage around the third ventricle that blocks this projection can produce coma (e.g., case 13, Malamud, 1967). The more difficult problem is the extent to which any forebrain region is necessary for conscious cognitive information processing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posterior cingulate, precuneal and retrosplenial cortices: cytology and components of the neural network correlates of consciousness

Vogt

Laureys

2005

Progress in Brain Research

447

339

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Neuronal aggregates involved in conscious awareness are not evenly distributed throughout the CNS but are comprised of key components referred to as the neural network correlates of consciousness (NNCC). A critical node in this network is the retrosplenial, posterior cingulate, and precuneal cortices (RSC/PCC/PrCC). The cytological and neurochemical composition of this region is reviewed in relation to the Brodmann map. This region has the highest level of brain glucose metabolism and cytochrome c oxidase activity. Monkey studies suggest that the anterior thalamic projection likely drives RSC and PCC metabolism and that the midbrain projection to the anteroventral thalamic nucleus is a key coupling site between the brainstem system for arousal and cortical systems for cognitive processing and awareness. The pivotal role of RSC/PCC/PrCC in consciousness is demonstrated with posterior cingulate epilepsy cases, midcingulate lesions that deafferent this region and are associated with unilateral sensory neglect, observations from stroke and vegetative state patients, alterations in blood flow during sleep, and the actions of anesthetics. Since this region is critically involved in self reflection, it is not surprising that it is similarly a site for the NNCC. Interestingly, information processing during complex cognitive tasks and during aversive sensations such as pain induces efforts to terminate self reflection and result in decreased processing in PCC/PrCC. Finally, anatomical relations between the neural correlates of mind and NNCC in the cingulate gyrus do not appear to overlap and suggests that mental function and conscious awareness may be mediated by two neural networks.

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Activation by Attention of the Human Reticular Formation and Thalamic Intralaminar Nuclei

Cited by 587 publications

References 22 publications

Eye closure in darkness animates sensory systems

Eye closure in darkness animates sensory systems

CYP2D6 in the brain: genotype effects on resting brain perfusion

Posterior cingulate, precuneal and retrosplenial cortices: cytology and components of the neural network correlates of consciousness

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