Thalamic oscillations distinguish natural states of consciousness in humans.
Nature human behaviour May 27, 2026 Aditya Chowdhury, Xiongbo Wu, Tara Beilner et al.
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.