A brain oscillation between 19 and 45 Hz, never before reported, occurs in the human central thalamus only during REM sleep and wakefulness, disappearing during non-REM sleep. This oscillation also distinguishes REM sleep microstates, coinciding with bursts of eye movements. The finding suggests a distinct electrophysiological signature in the central thalamus that differentiates conscious states, offering a new target for studying thalamic roles in consciousness and for refining treatments for disorders of consciousness.
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.