Context-Sensitive Conscious Interpretation and Layer-5 Pyramidal Neurons in Multistable Perception.

Introduction: There appears to be a fundamental difference between the two ways of how an object becomes perceptually experienced. One occurs when preconscious object-specifying sensory data processing crosses a certain threshold so that sensory constituents of object depiction become consciously experienced. The other occurs when the already consciously experienced sensory features of the object become interpreted as belonging to a certain visual object category. Surprisingly, experimental facts about neural markers of conscious access gathered so far do not allow us to distinguish mechanisms responsible for these two varieties.

Methods: A cortical multicompartment layer-5 pyramidal neuron-based generic processing model is presented in order to conceptualize a possible mechanistic solution for the explanatory cul-de-sac. To support the argument, a review of pertinent research is compiled as associated with data from studies where physically invariant perceptual stimuli have underwent alternative interpretation(s) by the brain.

Results: Recent developments in the newly emerging field of cellular psycho(physio)logy are introduced, offering a hypothetical solution for distinguishing the mechanisms subserving sensory content experience and conscious interpretation.

Conclusion: The multicompartment single cell-based mechanistic approach to brain process correlates of conscious perception appears to have an added value beyond the traditional inter-areal connectivity-based theoretical stances.