Exploration of the Neural Correlates of Consciousness Using Linear Latent Model.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a promising technique for studying consciousness recovery in patients suffering from Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) and in monkeys with anesthesia-induced Loss of Consciousness (LoC). When talking about the neural correlates of consciousness, the role of the frontal cortex remains a matter of debate. Using direct causal Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at rest, we want to highlight the predominant networks processing conscious information. To recover these networks, we adopt the Modular Hierarchical Analysis (MHA) latent variable model that automatically identifies groups of regions sharing joint Brain Network Activities (BNAs). We demonstrate empirical DBS-driven evidence for a contribution of the anterior versus posterior cortex to consciousness.