Human visual consciousness involves large scale cortical and subcortical networks independent of task report and eye movement activity

Sharif I. Kronemer, Mark Aksen, Julia Z. Ding, Jun Hwan Ryu, Qilong Xin, Zhaoxiong Ding, Jacob S. Prince, Hunki Kwon, Aya Khalaf, Sarit Forman, David S. Jin, Kevin Wang, Kaylie Chen, Claire Hu, Akshar Agarwal, Erik Saberski, Syed Mohammad Adil Wafa, Owen P. Morgan, Jia Wu, Kate L. Christison-Lagay, Nicholas Hasulak, Martha Morrell, Alexandra Urban, R. Todd Constable, Michael Pitts, R. Mark Richardson, Michael J. Crowley and Hal Blumenfeld ()
Additional contact information
Sharif I. Kronemer: Yale University
Mark Aksen: Yale University
Julia Z. Ding: Yale University
Jun Hwan Ryu: Yale University
Qilong Xin: Yale University
Zhaoxiong Ding: Yale University
Jacob S. Prince: Yale University
Hunki Kwon: Yale University
Aya Khalaf: Yale University
Sarit Forman: Yale University
David S. Jin: Yale University
Kevin Wang: Yale University
Kaylie Chen: Yale University
Claire Hu: Yale University
Akshar Agarwal: Yale University
Erik Saberski: Yale University
Syed Mohammad Adil Wafa: Yale University
Owen P. Morgan: Yale University
Jia Wu: Yale University
Kate L. Christison-Lagay: Yale University
Nicholas Hasulak: NeuroPace, Inc.
Martha Morrell: NeuroPace, Inc.
Alexandra Urban: University of Pittsburgh
R. Todd Constable: Yale University
Michael Pitts: Reed College
R. Mark Richardson: Massachusetts General Hospital
Michael J. Crowley: Yale University
Hal Blumenfeld: Yale University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract The full neural circuits of conscious perception remain unknown. Using a visual perception task, we directly recorded a subcortical thalamic awareness potential (TAP). We also developed a unique paradigm to classify perceived versus not perceived stimuli using eye measurements to remove confounding signals related to reporting on conscious experiences. Using fMRI, we discovered three major brain networks driving conscious visual perception independent of report: first, increases in signal detection regions in visual, fusiform cortex, and frontal eye fields; and in arousal/salience networks involving midbrain, thalamus, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate, and anterior insula; second, increases in frontoparietal attention and executive control networks and in the cerebellum; finally, decreases in the default mode network. These results were largely maintained after excluding eye movement-based fMRI changes. Our findings provide evidence that the neurophysiology of consciousness is complex even without overt report, involving multiple cortical and subcortical networks overlapping in space and time.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35117-4

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