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Can damage to the thalamus impair consciousness and sleep-wake cycles?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Yes. Damage to the thalamus can lead to a loss of consciousness; bilateral damage leads to coma or more likely, death.
Damage to the pons and midbrain (parts of the brainstem) can also lead to loss of consciousness - rotational head injuries lead to rotation of the brain stem and axonal shearing (tearing of the long axons running through the brain stem supporting all the crucial arousal systems). This is why certain types of head injury can cause loss of consciousness.
Evidence from the use of anesthetics has shown reduced thalamic function suggesting the thalamus plays a crucial role in consciousness (Bogen, 1997; Fiske, 1999; Byas-Smith, 2002).
Thalmic activity is also reduced during sleep, when we are less 'alert' and arguably less 'conscious' than when awake (Braun, 1997; Maquet (2002).
So, consciousness is thought to be primarily linked to the thalamus (subcortical) rather than higher brain structures (cortical). This is supported by individuals born without a cortex (congenital decorticate), who still show signs of conscious behaviour.
NB the distinction between awareness and consciousness is not clear cut.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoYes
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Is the damage to the thalamus impairs consciousness and the awake and sleep cycles?
Yes
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smell
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Unfortunately, medical science is not able to fix damaged brains.
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because it is centre for intellect learning and memory consciousness and language if it is damaged it will mean loss of consciousness loss of memory , difficulty with leaning and such like
If the thalamus is damaged which senses if any would be affected?
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Deep brain stimulation works to arouse the thalamus in the case of minimally conscious patients who have suffered brain injury. These are people who still have some brain structures in tact because the damage isn't as sever as those in a vegetative state. Psychologists are now looking to deep brain stimulation in order to arouse the thalamus because it is believed to play a pivotal role in forebrain dysfunction after injury. The forebrain helps us organize and make decisions, so deep brain stimulation is an attempt to reconnect all parts of the brain by stimulating the thalamus; a section that passes all cerebrum information along.
What part of the brain does conciousness depend on?
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