RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Returning from Oblivion: Imaging the Neural Core of Consciousness JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 4935 OP 4943 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4962-11.2012 VO 32 IS 14 A1 Långsjö, Jaakko W. A1 Alkire, Michael T. A1 Kaskinoro, Kimmo A1 Hayama, Hiroki A1 Maksimow, Anu A1 Kaisti, Kaike K. A1 Aalto, Sargo A1 Aantaa, Riku A1 Jääskeläinen, Satu K. A1 Revonsuo, Antti A1 Scheinin, Harry YR 2012 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/14/4935.abstract AB One of the greatest challenges of modern neuroscience is to discover the neural mechanisms of consciousness and to explain how they produce the conscious state. We sought the underlying neural substrate of human consciousness by manipulating the level of consciousness in volunteers with anesthetic agents and visualizing the resultant changes in brain activity using regional cerebral blood flow imaging with positron emission tomography. Study design and methodology were chosen to dissociate the state-related changes in consciousness from the effects of the anesthetic drugs. We found the emergence of consciousness, as assessed with a motor response to a spoken command, to be associated with the activation of a core network involving subcortical and limbic regions that become functionally coupled with parts of frontal and inferior parietal cortices upon awakening from unconsciousness. The neural core of consciousness thus involves forebrain arousal acting to link motor intentions originating in posterior sensory integration regions with motor action control arising in more anterior brain regions. These findings reveal the clearest picture yet of the minimal neural correlates required for a conscious state to emerge.