Neural mechanism of conscious perception for potential clinical applications

IF 6.8 1区 医学 Q1 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL
Yong Wang, Shouyang Yu, Yueqing Dong, Yuanyuan Dang, Hulin Zhao, Mingsha Zhang, Xiaoli Li
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The generation of consciousness has remained one of the most enduring scientific quests in human history. When a visual stimulus enters the eye, how does the brain transform it into the subjective experience of “I see”? Traditional theories posited the cerebral cortex as the epicenter of conscious perception, relegating the thalamus to a mere relay station for sensory signals. However, a groundbreaking study recently published in Science has overturned this paradigm, identifying the mediodorsal thalamic nuclei (MDm) and intralaminar nuclei (ILN) as the true “gatekeepers” of conscious perception.1 Through dynamic connectivity with the prefrontal cortex, these nuclei determine which sensory information gains access to the conscious perception. What groundbreaking clinical implications might this discovery yield?

Conscious perception, is one of the most complex issues in the field of cognitive science, meaning subjects convert external stimuli into subjective experiences through neural activity. Conscious perception involves the awareness and understanding of one's environment, internal stimuli, and cognitive processes. As a key capability for human cognition, it enables individuals to be aware of events, emotions, thoughts, and bodily states. From the perspective of neuroscience, conscious perception is a process that involves several brain regions, particularly the thalamus and the prefrontal cortex.2, 3 These regions synthesize information from sensory systems, such as vision, hearing, and touch, to construct a clear conscious experience.

Conscious perception is impaired in various medical conditions (see Figure 1). Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are linked to progressive deterioration in awareness and perception. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease often exhibit a decline in consciousness and self-awareness,4 whereas those with Parkinson's may endure visual perception problems due to the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the retina.5 Other conditions that affect conscious perception include epilepsy, which can cause sensory disturbances; and sleep disorders, which can lead to perceptual changes due to sleep deprivation or disrupted circadian rhythms (Figure 1).

This paradigm shift, from cortical-centric to thalamocortical network models of consciousness, calls for multidisciplinary collaboration. By integrating sEEG-guided neuromodulation, computational modeling of mesocircuit dynamics, and machine learning-based biomarker discovery, clinicians can develop precision therapies that bridge molecular mechanisms with systems-level network reorganization. These advances not only redefine our approach to DoC but also offer novel pathways for treating perceptual-cognitive deficits across neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Abstract Image

有意识知觉的神经机制及其潜在的临床应用。
意识的产生一直是人类历史上最持久的科学探索之一。当视觉刺激进入眼睛时,大脑如何将其转化为“我看到了”的主观体验?传统理论认为,大脑皮层是意识知觉的中心,而视丘体仅仅是传递感官信号的中继站。然而,最近发表在《科学》杂志上的一项突破性研究推翻了这一范式,该研究确定丘脑中背核(MDm)和层内核(ILN)是意识感知的真正“看门人”通过与前额叶皮层的动态连接,这些核决定了哪些感觉信息可以进入意识知觉。这一发现会产生什么开创性的临床意义?意识知觉是认知科学领域中最复杂的问题之一,是指主体通过神经活动将外界刺激转化为主观体验。有意识的知觉包括对一个人的环境、内部刺激和认知过程的意识和理解。作为人类认知的一项关键能力,它使个体能够意识到事件、情绪、思想和身体状态。从神经科学的角度来看,意识知觉是一个涉及大脑几个区域的过程,特别是丘脑和前额皮质。2,3这些区域综合来自感官系统的信息,如视觉、听觉和触觉,以构建清晰的意识体验。在各种医疗条件下,意识知觉受损(见图1)。神经退行性疾病,包括阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病,与意识和知觉的逐渐恶化有关。患有阿尔茨海默病的人通常表现出意识和自我意识的下降,而患有帕金森病的人可能会因为视网膜中产生多巴胺的细胞的丧失而忍受视觉感知问题其他影响意识知觉的疾病包括癫痫,它会导致感觉障碍;以及睡眠障碍,由于睡眠剥夺或昼夜节律紊乱,可能导致感知变化(图1)。这种范式的转变,从以皮层为中心的意识模型到丘脑皮层网络模型,需要多学科的合作。通过整合seeg引导的神经调节、中游电路动力学的计算建模和基于机器学习的生物标志物发现,临床医生可以开发出精确的治疗方法,将分子机制与系统级网络重组联系起来。这些进步不仅重新定义了我们治疗DoC的方法,而且为治疗神经和精神疾病的感知认知缺陷提供了新的途径。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
15.90
自引率
1.90%
发文量
450
审稿时长
4 weeks
期刊介绍: Clinical and Translational Medicine (CTM) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to accelerating the translation of preclinical research into clinical applications and fostering communication between basic and clinical scientists. It highlights the clinical potential and application of various fields including biotechnologies, biomaterials, bioengineering, biomarkers, molecular medicine, omics science, bioinformatics, immunology, molecular imaging, drug discovery, regulation, and health policy. With a focus on the bench-to-bedside approach, CTM prioritizes studies and clinical observations that generate hypotheses relevant to patients and diseases, guiding investigations in cellular and molecular medicine. The journal encourages submissions from clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals.
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