The Ferrier Lecture 1998. The molecular biology of consciousness investigated with genetically modified mice.
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences December 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1832 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Brain Neurons Animals Mice, transgenic Receptors, nicotinic Behavior, animal Social behavior Consciousness Arousal Protein conformation History, 20th century |
| Key points | Argues that mice and genetically modified mouse models can be used to investigate elementary building blocks of consciousness, such as vigilance states and global integration of sensory and cognitive functions, and that defined neuronal nicotinic receptor subtypes contribute to these processes, with the data interpreted within neurocomputational models of access to consciousness. |
Abstract
The question is raised of the relevance of experimental work with the mouse and some of its genetically modified individuals in the study of consciousness. Even if this species does not go far beyond the level of 'minimal consciousness', it may be a useful animal model to examine the elementary building blocks of consciousness using the methods of molecular biology jointly with investigations at the physiological and behavioural levels. These building blocks which are anticipated to be universally shared by higher organisms (from birds to humans) may include: (i) the access to multiple states of vigilance, like wakefulness, sleep, general anaesthesia, etc.; (ii) the capacity for global integration of several sensory and cognitive functions, together with behavioural flexibility resulting in what is referred to as exploratory behaviour, and possibly a minimal form of intentionality. In addition, the contribution of defined neuronal nicotinic receptors species to some of these processes is demonstrated and the data discussed within the framework of recent neurocomputational models for access to consciousness.
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