Are We Aware of Neural Activity in Primary Visual Cortex? A Neuropsychological Case Study

Overview

Journal Ann Clin Transl Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Mar 21

PMID 38509632

Authors

Fabien Hauw

Aude Sangare

Esteban Munoz-Musat

Claire Meyniel

Nina Di Donato

Sylvie Chokron

Frederique Bozon

Lionel Naccache

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: According to a seminal hypothesis stated by Crick and Koch in 1995, one is not aware of neural activity in primary visual cortex (V1) because this region lacks reciprocal connections with prefrontal cortex (PFC).

Methods: We provide here a neuropsychological illustration of this hypothesis in a patient with a very rare form of cortical blindness: ventral and dorsal cortical pathways were lesioned bilaterally while V1 areas were partially preserved.

Results: Visual stimuli escaped conscious perception but still activated V1 regions that were functionally disconnected from PFC.

Interpretation: These results are consistent with the hypothesis of a causal role of PFC in visual awareness.

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Naccache L, Munoz-Musat E Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2024; 26(1):1-23.

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