Two distinct neuronal networks mediate the awareness of environment and of self

[en] Evidence from functional neuroimaging studies on resting state suggests that there are two distinct anticorrelated cortical systems that mediate conscious awareness: an "extrinsic" system that encompasses lateral fronto-parietal areas and has been linked with processes of external input (external awareness), and an "intrinsic" system which encompasses mainly medial brain areas and has been associated with internal processes (internal awareness). The aim of our study was to explore the neural correlates of resting state by providing behavioral and neuroimaging data from healthy volunteers. With no a priori assumptions, we first determined behaviorally the relationship between external and internal awareness in 31 subjects. We found a significant anticorrelation between external and internal awareness with a mean switching frequency of 0.05 Hz (range: 0.01-0.1 Hz). Interestingly, this frequency is similar to BOLD fMRI slow oscillations. We then evaluated 22 healthy volunteers in an fMRI paradigm looking for brain areas where BOLD activity correlated with "internal" and "external" scores. Activation of precuneus/posterior cingulate, anterior cingulate/mesiofrontal cortices, and parahippocampal areas ("intrinsic system") was linearly linked to intensity of internal awareness, whereas activation of lateral fronto-parietal cortices ("extrinsic system") was linearly associated with intensity of external awareness.

Research center :

GIGA CRC (Cyclotron Research Center) In vivo Imaging-Aging & Memory - ULiège

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior
Neurology

Author, co-author :

Vanhaudenhuyse, Audrey ^✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Demertzi, Athina ^✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Schabus, Manuel

Noirhomme, Quentin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Brédart, Serge ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie : cognition et comportement > Psychologie cognitive

Boly, Mélanie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Neurologie

Phillips, Christophe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Soddu, Andrea ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Luxen, André ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie organique de synthèse

MOONEN, Gustave ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Neurologie Sart Tilman

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

^✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Language :

English

Title :

Two distinct neuronal networks mediate the awareness of environment and of self

Publication date :

2011

Journal title :

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

ISSN :

0898-929X

eISSN :

1530-8898

Publisher :

MIT Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

570-578

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
EU - European Commission
JSMF - James S McDonnell Foundation [US-MO]
MSF - Mind Science Foundation [US-TX]
The French Speaking Community Concerted Research Action
FMRE - Fondation Médicale Reine Elisabeth [BE]
DISCOS Marie-Curie Research Training Network,

Available on ORBi :

since 10 January 2011

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