Bifurcation dynamics in a shared network beyond sensory areas characterize conscious auditory perception independently of report
Julie Boyer, Nathan Beraud, Benoît Béranger, Thomas Valentin Hardy, Başak Türker, Hortense Gouyette, Alizée Lopez‐Persem, Claire Sergent
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) June 22, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.64898/2026.06.17.732590 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Sensory system Stimulus psychology Dynamics music Network dynamics Sensory stimulation therapy Bifurcation Artificial neural network Cognitive psychology Consciousness Electroencephalography Visual perception Communication |
| Key findings | Conscious perception is associated with bifurcation dynamics in broad networks spanning sensory and extra-sensory regions, including prefrontal cortex, regardless of task context. |
Abstract
The neural correlates of conscious perception remain debated, particularly regarding the role of extra-sensory regions such as the prefrontal cortex. One promising approach is to study the dynamical properties of neural processing in task-related and task-free contexts. A previous EEG study showed that conscious perception is associated with all-or-none late activations, giving rise to bifurcation dynamics even without a task. Here we used fMRI and near-threshold auditory stimulation to ask which brain networks give rise to these bifurcations, and how they diOer depending on task. In both contexts, stimulus intensity modulated activity within broad networks spanning sensory and extra-sensory regions, including the prefrontal cortex. These networks showed both shared and distinct components. Single-trial modelling further revealed bifurcation dynamics beyond primary sensory cortices and enabled single-trial prediction of conscious perception in both contexts. These findings resolve previous conflicting results and reveal common networks and dynamics underlying conscious perception irrespective of task.