Paradoxical pharmacological dissociations result from drugs that enhance delta oscillations but preserve consciousness
Joel Frohlich, Pedro A. M. Mediano, Francesco Bavato, Alireza Gharabaghi
Communications Biology June 20, 2023 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04988-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Cognitive psychology Delta Persistent vegetative state Cognitive science |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Several diverse pharmacological agents can produce neural activity resembling cortical down states while participants remain conscious, challenging the assumption that such activity indicates loss of consciousness. |
Abstract
Abstract Low-frequency (<4 Hz) neural activity, particularly in the delta band, is generally indicative of loss of consciousness and cortical down states, particularly when it is diffuse and high amplitude. Remarkably, however, drug challenge studies of several diverse classes of pharmacological agents—including drugs which treat epilepsy, activate GABA B receptors, block acetylcholine receptors, or produce psychedelic effects—demonstrate neural activity resembling cortical down states even as the participants remain conscious. Of those substances that are safe to use in healthy volunteers, some may be highly valuable research tools for investigating which neural activity patterns are sufficient for consciousness or its absence.