Two separate neural pathways, lateral and medial, for sensory decisions in mammals: switching of attention between the outer and inner cognitive worlds.
Frontiers in neuroscience January 1, 2025 Kensaku Mori, Hitoshi Sakano 2 citations
Cortical attention plays a crucial role in how mammals process sensory information, with 70% of cortical activity linked to outer-world cognition and 30% to inner-world cognition. This balance allows the brain to switch focus between external stimuli and internal states like pain or thirst. The late exhalation phase is particularly vital for generating internal attention and emotional responses, which help form associative memories. Understanding this attentional switching enhances our grasp of how emotional experiences shape cognition and behavior.