Abstract：
Consciousness can be conceptualized as varying along at least two dimensions: the global state of consciousness and the content of conscious experience. Here, we highlight the cellular and systems-level contributions of the thalamus to conscious state and then argue for thalamic contributions to conscious content, including the integrated, segregated, and continuous nature of our experience. We underscore vital, yet distinct roles for core- and matrix-type thalamic neurons. Through reciprocal interactions with deep-layer cortical neurons, matrix neurons support wakefulness and determine perceptual thresholds, whereas the cortical interactions of core neurons maintain content and enable perceptual constancy. We further propose that conscious integration, segregation, and continuity depend on the convergent nature of corticothalamic projections enabling dimensionality reduction, a thalamic reticular nucleus-mediated divisive normalization-like process, and sustained coherent activity in thalamocortical loops, respectively. Overall, we conclude that the thalamus plays a central topological role in brain structures controlling conscious experience.
摘要：
意识可以概念化为至少在两个维度上变化：意识的整体状态和意识经验的内容。这里,我们强调丘脑对意识状态的细胞和系统水平的贡献，然后争论丘脑对意识内容的贡献，包括综合的,隔离,和我们经验的连续性。我们强调至关重要，核心型和基质型丘脑神经元的作用不同。通过与深层皮层神经元的相互作用，矩阵神经元支持觉醒并确定感知阈值，而核心神经元的皮质相互作用保持内容并实现感知恒定性。我们进一步提出有意识的整合，隔离,和连续性取决于皮质丘脑投影的收敛性质，从而实现降维，丘脑网状核介导的分裂正常化样过程，在丘脑皮质环中持续的连贯活动，分别。总的来说,我们得出的结论是，丘脑在控制意识体验的大脑结构中起着重要的拓扑作用。
