How Conscious Thought Fades Under Anesthesia

Summary: A new study has shown that conscious thought relies on synchronized brain rhythms to maintain communication between sensory and cognitive brain regions. Under general anesthesia, this rhythm-based communication breaks…

Consciousness in AI: Distinguishing Reality from Simulation

Summary: A new study examines the possibility of consciousness in artificial systems, focusing on ruling out scenarios where AI appears conscious without actually being so. Using the free energy principle,…

Mindfulness Can Induce Altered States of Consciousness

Summary: Mindfulness training can lead to altered states of consciousness, such as disembodiment and unity. Researchers found that participants were twice as likely to experience these states compared to a…

Beyond Consciousness: How Meditators Voluntarily Enter Void States

Summary: Experienced meditators can voluntarily induce unconscious states, known as cessations, without the use of drugs. This ability, observed in Tibetan Buddhist practice, allows meditators to experience a momentary void…

How Anesthesia Blocks Consciousness – Neuroscience News

Summary: A new study reveals insights into how general anesthesia affects consciousness and sensory perception. Using animal models, researchers found that while propofol anesthesia allows sensory information to reach the…

Mapping Time and Space: Neurons Decode Human Existence Dimensions

Summary: Researchers unveil how neurons in the brain depict time and space, fundamental to human consciousness. Utilizing special depth electrodes, they studied patients undergoing treatment for epilepsy, revealing “place cells”…

The Dream Dance: Decoding REM’s Mystical Nightly Show in Our Brains

Summary: REM sleep, marked by rapid eye movement, is one of the most mysterious stages of our nightly rest, known for vivid dreams. This phase, repeating every 90 to 120…

Psychedelics Sync Neurons: A Glimpse into Consciousness & Psychosis

Summary: Researchers have pioneered a method to simultaneously measure electrical signals from 128 brain regions in conscious rats. Using this technique, they observed the effects of psychedelic drugs, LSD and…

To What Extent Are We Ruled by Unconscious Forces?

Summary: Unconscious mechanisms that occur as a result of neural activity set us up for actions we are going to take. This happens before we are consciously aware of the…