MIT hunts for the source of consciousness deep in the brain

MIT researchers suggest the neural pathways for consciousness first appeared in vertebrates about 500 million years ago in deep brain structures such as the thalamus, cerebellum and medulla. Using transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), they stimulate neurons at millimeter scale in awake patients to map where specific conscious experiences like thirst reside.

• Consciousness tied to deep brain structures dating back about 500 million years
• tFUS stimulates deep-brain neurons at millimeter scale without opening the skull
• Hypothalamus stimulation made patients report shame and grief
• Thalamus shows 20–45 Hz oscillations only during wakefulness and REM sleep