A new no-report paradigm reveals that face cells encode both consciously perceived and suppressed stimuli

Hesse, Janis K.; Tsao, Doris Y.

doi:10.7554/elife.58360

Cited by 45 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…in its contrast or intensity). This is clearly demonstrated in binocular rivalry experiments ( Blake 2001 ; Hesse and Tsao 2020 ) in which a physically unchanging stimulus alternates between being consciously visible and invisible.…”

Section: Aa and Perceptual Consciousnessmentioning

confidence: 90%

Apical amplification—a cellular mechanism of conscious perception?

Marvan

Polak

Bachmann

et al. 2021

Neuroscience of Consciousness

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We present a theoretical view of the cellular foundations for network-level processes involved in producing our conscious experience. Inputs to apical synapses in layer 1 of a large subset of neocortical cells are summed at an integration zone near the top of their apical trunk. These inputs come from diverse sources and provide a context within which the transmission of information abstracted from sensory input to their basal and perisomatic synapses can be amplified when relevant. We argue that apical amplification enables conscious perceptual experience and makes it more flexible, and thus more adaptive, by being sensitive to context. Apical amplification provides a possible mechanism for recurrent processing theory that avoids strong loops. It makes the broadcasting hypothesized by global neuronal workspace theories feasible while preserving the distinct contributions of the individual cells receiving the broadcast. It also provides mechanisms that contribute to the holistic aspects of integrated information theory. As apical amplification is highly dependent on cholinergic, aminergic, and other neuromodulators, it relates the specific contents of conscious experience to global mental states and to fluctuations in arousal when awake. We conclude that apical dendrites provide a cellular mechanism for the context-sensitive selective amplification that is a cardinal prerequisite of conscious perception.

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Section: Aa and Perceptual Consciousnessmentioning

confidence: 90%

Apical amplification—a cellular mechanism of conscious perception?

Marvan

Polak

Bachmann

et al. 2021

Neuroscience of Consciousness

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“…Yet, previous research has repeatedly shown that prefrontal cortex may indeed represent the contents of conscious experience 51,52 . Intersecting computational models of dynamic conflict-accumulation 14 with no-report paradigms of bistable perception will enable future research to test whether the contents of conscious experience are represented 53 or multiplexed 54 within the neural correlates of perceptual conflict, creating exciting new opportunities to better understand the role of prefrontal cortex in consciousness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for an Active Role of Inferior Frontal Cortex in Conscious Experience

Weilnhammer

Fritsch

Chikermane

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Despite a growing understanding of human brain function, it is still unclear how conscious experience emerges from neural activity. A much-debated question in the search for the neural underpinnings of consciousness is whether prefrontal cortex actively shapes conscious experience or, alternatively, serves only complementary cognitive functions such as evaluating and acting on the contents of consciousness.Here, we studied the neural mechanisms of bistable perception to elucidate the role of prefrontal cortex in consciousness. Human participants reported periodic changes in conscious experience that were induced by conflicting sensory information. Two functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments showed that prefrontal brain activity in inferior frontal cortex signals the conflict between conscious experience and available sensory information. In a third experiment, inhibitory transcranial magnetic stimulation revealed that a disruption of neural activity in inferior frontal cortex leads to a decrease of conflict-driven changes in conscious experience.Our results indicate that, by engaging in iterative and reciprocal interactions with sensory brain regions, inferior frontal cortex plays a critical role in both the detection and the resolution of perceptual conflicts. This points to a causal influence of prefrontal brain activity on the dynamic unfolding of conscious experience. One-sentence Summary Inferior frontal cortex detects and resolves perceptual conflict during bistable perception.

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“…Indeed, previous studies optimized for decoding have repeatedly shown that prefrontal cortex may indeed encode the contents of conscious experience 47,48,65 and may thus constitute a true neural correlate of consciousness. 47,48 Intersecting computational models of dynamic conflict accumulation 13 with noreport paradigms of bistable perception will enable future research to test whether the contents of conscious experience are represented 48 or multiplexed 69 within the neural correlates of perceptual conflict, creating exciting new opportunities to better understand the role of prefrontal cortex in consciousness.…”

Section: Ifc Regulates the Access Of Conflicting Information Into Conscious Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%