Affiliations: School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston Brain
Centre, Aston University, and Clinical Neurophysiology Unit Birmingham, UK | Developmental Neurosciences Unit, Department of
Medical and Surgical Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof. Stefano Seri, Room SW 613, School
of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, B4 7ET,
Birmingham, UK. Tel.: +44 121 2044103; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: In spite of the inherent difficulties in achieving a biologically
meaningful definition of consciousness, recent neurophysiological studies are
starting to provide some insight in fundamental mechanisms associated with
impaired consciousness in neurological disorders. Generalised seizures are
associated with disruption of the default state network, a functional network
of discrete brain areas, which include the fronto-parietal cortices.
Subcortical contribution through activation of thalamocortical structures, as
well as striate nuclei are also crucial to produce impaired consciousness in
generalised seizures.
