david zhou

Testing circuit-level theories of consciousness in humans Our understanding of the neural basis of consciousness is mostly restricted to large-scale brain activity patterns as measured by methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto/electro-encephalography (M/EEG). In contrast, we lack even basic understanding of circuit-level mechanisms supporting consciousness – particularly in humans – despite the fundamental role that such mechanisms likely play in instantiating larger-scale brain activity patterns supporting conscious states and contents. Here, we review what progress has been made on circuit-level theories of consciousness (e.g., apical amplification theory, dendritic integration theory) and argue that such theories can be tested in humans using recently developed, state-of-the-art methods. Doing so will further facilitate translation of consciousness science into clinical settings and strengthen the bridge between circuit- and network-level theories of consciousness.

Online Now: Testing circuit-level theories of consciousness in humans

It's time to move beyond abstract debates and build a mechanistic systems neuroscience that bridges circuits to #consciousness. Thanks to my co-authors, especially @adykstra.bsky.social @tmarvan.bsky.social @jonescompneurolab.bsky.social, for leading this effort!

#consci

The same circuit principles apply across disorders of consciousness, dementia, and psychiatric conditions. These aren't separate disorders but variations in how circuit disruptions manifest as symptoms in conscious experience.

Here's what excites me most: consciousness isn't merely a philosophical abstraction. It's a measurable, treatable dimension of symptomatic experience. When we understand the circuit basis of consciousness, we understand neurological symptoms at their most fundamental level.

Our review shows how new methods in neuroimaging, biophysical modeling, and human systems neuroscience can finally begin to test what's actually happening at the circuit level, from arousal to the thalamus and the cortex.

This gap hurts both neuroscience and consciousness research. It has informed my take on the field of consciousness science today. We're building increasingly abstract theories on signals we can't properly explain.

A personal story: For years, I've watched #consciousness debates narrow into IIT vs GNW camps while we overlooked something fundamental: we don't actually understand the circuit mechanisms that generate the macroscale EEG signals used to support these theories.

It's a privilege to be part of this new review in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social: Testing circuit-level theories of consciousness with modern neuroimaging and biophysical modeling 🧵

#eeg #consci #consciousness #neuroscience

www.cell.com/trends/cogni...

Our open-access article - Testing circuit-level theories of consciousness in humans - together with Yunkai Zhu, Carolina Fernandez Pujol, @dvwz.bsky.social, @jonescompneurolab.bsky.social, @tmarvan.bsky.social, and @danclab.bsky.social, was just published @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social.

Sources of Richness and Ineffability for Phenomenally Conscious States Conscious states (states that there is something it is like to be in) seem both rich or full of detail, and ineffable or hard to fully describe or recall. The problem of ineffability, in particular, i...

An information theoretic and dynamical systems framework for the explanatory gap by deep learning researchers. "Sources of Richness and Ineffability for Phenomenally Conscious States" arxiv.org/abs/2302.06403

From interview of Lee Bollinger, 1st Amendment scholar who served as dean of @UMichLaw, president of @UMich, and president of Columbia University.
www.chronicle.com/article/were...

If you've been calling Congress, keep calling & if not, start-we're getting their attention. We had a good visit to a Congressional office yesterday to discuss science funding & the staffer told us how busy they've been-usually the Senate shwitchboard gets 64 calls/minute-now they're getting 1600 🧪

wow: Biogen quits Aduhelm, handing back rights to original developer www.biopharmadive.com/news/biogen-... #Alzheimers

Paramedics convicted in Elijah McClain’s death Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec were charged in 2021 with reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for administering ketamine to Elijah McClain.

Breaking news: Colorado paramedics who gave Elijah McClain ketamine during fatal 2019 arrest found guilty of criminally negligent homicide

Thalamic deep brain stimulation in traumatic brain injury: a phase 1, randomized feasibility study -... A phase 1 feasibility trial shows that bilateral deep brain stimulation within the central lateral thalamus can be safely applied and is associated with improved executive control.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation in traumatic brain injury: a phase 1, randomized feasibility study www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Piece on the new thalamic DBS phase 1 study by Niko Schiff and colleagues out today in Nature Medicine www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/h...

can we do a control where they learn the opposite (stalactites as stalagmites) and see what it does to their love of science

Applications are now open for the Carney Institute’s spring 2024 season of the BrainExPo (external postdoc) seminar series!

If you are an advanced postdoc in brain science, apply to visit Brown + give a guest talk! Logistical info at linked page. Deadline is Dec. 1.

#psychscisky #neuroskyence

"246 biologists get different results from same data sets.
Wide distribution of findings shows how analytical choices drive conclusions."
#philsci 🌍 #evobio

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

probably “adhd”

Is there a German word for having a cool idea but unsure if it’s cool enough that no one is currently doing it but not necessarily wanting to do it yourself due to other cool ideas still on the back burner but not wanting the opportunity pass by but weighing costs across all opportunities and decidi

hot take of the day made with no supporting evidence - chord diagrams are just about the worst way to visualize brain network data

“It’s impossible to find nothing.”

- Buzsáki’s lab slogan, which he writes about in his book. I love this line.

The context is that knowledge claims are plentiful, with whatever methods you choose, but the theoretical frameworks they support need to be chosen carefully.

My interest in the theory-ladenness of neural measurements 📈📈📈

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I’m going to register, this seems can’t miss. Let’s connect there!

Hi Alex! Really interested. Will your session be recorded?

GitHub - kawamataryo/sky-follower-bridge: Instantly find and follow the same users from your Twitter... Instantly find and follow the same users from your Twitter follower on Bluesky. - GitHub - kawamataryo/sky-follower-bridge: Instantly find and follow the same users from your Twitter follower on Bl...

y'all -- sky follower bridge is the sh*t. makes migration over here so much easier. starting to feel like this really could be a viable alternative and hopeful i won't lose my online community. thank you thank you to the developers.

github.com/kawamataryo/...

why yes, well-defined neural activity measures are my jam