Prefrontal neural dynamics in consciousness.
Neuropsychologia August 1, 2019 Umberto León-Domínguez, José León-Carrión
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key brain region for consciousness, involved in both awareness and manipulating conscious content. While its role in cortico-cortical networks is agreed upon, its function in thalamocortical networks and forming conscious content is debated. This review proposes that the PFC, via connections with nonspecific thalamic nuclei, integrates sensory perceptions into a unified conscious experience. A cortico-thalamocortical loop organizes temporal and spatial information to maintain a subjective stream of consciousness. Attentional top-down mechanisms between the PFC and the reticular thalamic nucleus may influence conscious content by regulating thalamic activity. The PFC acts as a dynamic hub that recalibrates neural dynamics and regulates brain processes associated with consciousness.