An integrative, multiscale view on neural theories of consciousness

Storm, Johan F.; Klink, P. Christiaan; Aru, Jaan; Senn, Walter; Goebel, Rainer; Pigorini, Andrea; Avanzini, Pietro; Vanduffel, Wim; Roelfsema, Pieter R.; Massimini, Marcello; Larkum, Matthew E.; Pennartz, Cyriel M.A.

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.004

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 171 publications

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“…As has been noted elsewhere (c.f. Aru et al, 2020; Storm et al, 2024), the circuit level conditions for awareness explored here fit well with many of the major neuronal theories of consciousness. The diffuse projections of the matrix-type thalamus may be a circuit level mechanism underlying the non-linear and widespread “ignition” response proposed by global neuronal workspace theory to underlie the transition from unconscious to conscious processing (Benitez et al, 2023; Cortes et al, 2023; Mashour et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Burst-dependent Thalamocortical Dynamics Underlie Perceptual Awareness

Whyte

Munn

Aru

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Investigations into the neural basis of conscious perception span multiple scales and levels of analysis. There is, however, a theoretical and methodological gap between advances made at the microscopic scale in animal models and those made at the macroscopic scale in human cognitive neuroscience that places a fundamental limit on our understanding of the neurobiological basis of consciousness. Here, we use computational modelling to bridge this gap. Specifically, we show that the same mechanism that underlies threshold detection in mice - apical dendrite mediated burst firing in thick-tufted layer V pyramidal neurons - determines perceptual dominance in a thalamocortical model of binocular rivalry - a staple task in the cognitive neuroscience of consciousness. The model conforms to the constraints imposed by decades of previous research into binocular rivalry and generalises to the more sophisticated rivalry tasks studied in humans generating novel, testable, explanations of the role of expectation and attention in rivalry. Our model, therefore, provides an empirically-tractable bridge between cellular-level mechanisms and conscious perception.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Burst-dependent Thalamocortical Dynamics Underlie Perceptual Awareness

Whyte

Munn

Aru

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Programmable Analog Circuits with Neuromorphic Nanostructured Platinum Films

Radice,

Profumo,

Borghi

et al. 2024

Adv Elect Materials

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Self‐assembled nanoparticle or nanowire networks have recently come under the spotlight as systems able to emulate brain‐like data processing performances by exploiting the memristive character and the wiring of the junctions connecting the nanostructured network building blocks. Recently it is demonstrated that nanostructured Au films, fabricated by the assembling of gold clusters produced in the gas phase, have non‐linear and non‐local electric conduction properties caused by the extremely high density of grain boundaries and the resulting complex arrangement of nanojunctions. These observations suggest that nanostructured metallic films can be explored and exploited as a novel class of neuromorphic systems for unconventional electronic devices. Here it is reported that nanostructured cluster‐assembled Pt films show resistive switching activity, negative differential resistance, and reversible memory effects. These properties allow the use of nanostructured Pt films in programmable analog circuits, such as gain amplifiers and relaxation oscillators with fast response.

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