Unconsciousness.
Hans Flohr
Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology March 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2005.08.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Proposes that consciousness depends on higher-order representations instantiated by large-scale neuronal assemblies, with NMDA synapses playing a crucial role in binding; unconsciousness occurs if and only if NMDA-dependent binding is inhibited. |
Abstract
This paper reviews a theory on the physiological conditions of consciousness. The theory consists of four hypotheses: (1) The occurrence of states of consciousness depends on the formation of higher-order representations that represent the internal state of the brain itself. (2) Higher-order representations are instantiated by the spatio-temporal activity pattern of large-scale neuronal assemblies. (3) The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) synapse plays a crucial role in the generation of conscious states by implementing the binding mechanism that the brain uses to produce large-scale assemblies. (4) The activation state of the NMDA receptor determines the rate at which representational structures can be built up. Unconsciousness or altered states of consciousness occur if, and only if, NMDA-dependent binding processes are inhibited.
Citations in the library
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