Yes, if a recent experiment is to be believed. In an attempt to locate the
source of an epileptic patient’s seizures, doctors at George Washington
University, USA, inserted electrodes into her brain. One electrode was
positioned close to the claustrum, a thin sheet of tissue below the cortex with
a role akin to that of an orchestra’s conductor – coordinating the many
different things that go on in the brain at once. Consciousness typically
involves sights, sounds, thoughts and feelings all coming together. When
the doctors stimulated this electrode the woman stayed awake but lost
consciousness. She stopped what she was doing, stared blankly into space and
would not respond to them. When the stimulation stopped she regained
consciousness. It seems a whole, complex brain is needed for rich experiences,
but it also needs the claustrum ‘switch’ to bring everything together. If you like to reading interesting & knowledgeable Science & technology Information please tap the bell button and subscribe us.
