Thalamic oscillations distinguish natural states of consciousness in humans
bioRxiv Preprint Server January 28, 2025 Aditya Chowdhury, Xiongbo Wu, Tara Beilner et al. preprint
A distinct brain oscillation in the 19-45 Hz range, recorded directly from the human central thalamus, is present only during REM sleep and wakefulness and absent during non-REM sleep. This oscillation co-occurs with bursts of eye movements during REM sleep and is specific to the central thalamus, a structure linked to global brain state transitions. The finding provides a new electrophysiological signature that distinguishes conscious states, offering a pathway to investigate thalamic roles in consciousness and potentially refine treatments for disorders of consciousness.