Communications biology
October 13, 2024
Nora A Bradford, Angela Shen, Brian Odegaard et al.
1 citation
A workshop and subawards program aimed to align United States federal funding mechanisms with consciousness research is described, including its motivation, execution, and outcomes, to encourage similar efforts locally and globally.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
November 19, 2025
Daniel K Freeman, Brian Odegaard, Seung-Schik Yoo et al.
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can stimulate the human brain non-invasively with millimeter-scale precision, targeting both cortical and deep structures. This new tool offers a potential breakthrough for studying the neural correlates of conscious perception, overcoming the coarse spatial resolution and limited depth of traditional electrical or magnetic stimulation. Because tFUS requires extensive preparation and regulatory approvals, careful experimental planning is essential. The authors provide a roadmap for using tFUS in humans to explore the neural substrate of conscious perception.
arXiv Preprint Archive
July 11, 2025
Daniel K. Freeman, Brian Odegaard, Seung-Schik Yoo et al.
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can stimulate the human brain non-invasively through the skull with millimeter-scale spatial resolution, targeting both cortical and deep brain structures. This emerging tool offers a promising method for investigating the neural basis of conscious perception, overcoming the coarse spatial resolution of traditional electrical or magnetic stimulation. The authors provide a roadmap for using tFUS in humans to explore the neural substrate of conscious perception, emphasizing the need for careful experimental planning due to extensive preparation and regulatory approvals.
Current Biology
July 1, 2018
J. Knotts, Brian Odegaard, H. Lau
Direct pharmacological stimulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) restores wakefulness in anesthetized rats, providing causal evidence that the PFC plays a key role in conscious experience. This finding helps resolve debates about the region's importance, as prior evidence was largely correlational.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
October 4, 2017
Brian Odegaard, Robert T Knight, Hakwan Lau
Activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for conscious perception, contradicting claims that PFC lesions do not affect subjective experience, that PFC activity does not reflect perceptual content, or that its role is solely due to task-related reporting. Empirical evidence shows PFC is essential for subjective experience in perception, not just for performing visual tasks. Confusing these two aspects can lead to misunderstandings.