The autonomic nervous system and the brainstem: A fundamental role or the background actors for consciousness generation? Hypothesis, evidence, and future directions for rehabilitation and theoretical approaches.

Davide Sattin,Mario Picozzi,Matilde Leonardi

doi:10.1002/brb3.1474

Abstract

IntroductionOne of the hardest challenges of the third century is to develop theories that could joint different results for a global explanation of human consciousness. Some important theories have been proposed, trying to explain the emergence of consciousness as the result of different progressive changes in the elaboration of information during brain processing, giving particular attention to the thalamocortical system.MethodsIn this article, a summary review of results that highlighted as cerebral cortex could not be so fundamental for consciousness generation is proposed. In detail, three topics were analyzed: (a) studies using experimental approach (manipulating stimuli or brain areas), such as decorticated animals or subliminal presentation of stimuli; (b) studies using anatomo‐clinical method (conscious inferenced from observed behaviors); and (c) data from neurostimulation of subcortical areas or of the autonomic nervous system.ResultsWe sketch two speculative hypothesis relative, firstly, to the possible independence from cortical areas of the on/off mechanism for consciousness generation and, secondly, to the possible role of information variability generated by the bottom‐up exchange of information among neural systems as a switch for consciousness.ConclusionsA broad range of evidence regarding the functional role of the brainstem and autonomic nervous system is reviewed for its bearing on a future hypothesis regarding the generation of consciousness experience.

Highlights

One of the hardest challenges of the third century is to develop theories that could joint different results for a global explanation of human consciousness
The link between conscious and learning is debate in literature because a lot of learning processes perform in a subliminal level without attention and someone could argue that learning is not a good example for the study of consciousness. We reported these studies because their protocols highlighted two kind of results: First, the performance was made in a new setting, that the rats/cats did not know before, and so it is hard to affirm that the learning process was entirely implicit without attention; second, because were showed results on the natural evolution of behaviors in animals without cerebral cortex and this could be useful for the discussion that we reported in the final part of the article
A broad range of evidence regarding the functional role of the brainstem and autonomic nervous system, ranging from experimental psychology and neurophysiology to clinical neurology, is reviewed for its bearing on a future hypothesis regarding the generation of consciousness experience

Summary

Introduction

One of the hardest challenges of the third century is to develop theories that could joint different results for a global explanation of human consciousness. Some important theories have been proposed, trying to explain the emergence of consciousness as the result of different progressive changes in the elaboration of information during brain processing, giving particular attention to the thalamocortical system. Methods: In this article, a summary review of results that highlighted as cerebral cortex could not be so fundamental for consciousness generation is proposed. Conclusions: A broad range of evidence regarding the functional role of the brainstem and autonomic nervous system is reviewed for its bearing on a future hypothesis regarding the generation of consciousness experience

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Methods

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Conclusion