The global workspace (GW) theory proposes that conscious processing results from coherent neuronal activity between widely distributed brain regions, with fronto-parietal associative cortices as key elements. In this model, transition between conscious and non conscious states are predicted to be caused by abrupt non-linear massive changes of the level of coherence within this distributed neural space. Epileptic seizures offer a unique model to explore the validity of this central hypothesis. Seizures are often characterized by the occurrence of brutal alterations of consciousness (AOC) which are largely negatively impacting patients' lives. Recently, we have shown that these sudden AOC are contemporary to non-linear increases of neural synchrony within distant cortico-cortical and cortico-thalamic networks. We interpreted these results in the light of GW theory, and suggested that excessive synchrony could prevent this distributed network to reach the minimal level of differentiation and complexity necessary to the coding of conscious representations. These observations both confirm some predictions of the GW model, and further specify the physiological window of neural coherence (minimum and maximum) associated with conscious processing.

中文翻译：

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意识和癫痫的全局工作空间 (GW) 理论。

全局工作区 (GW) 理论提出，有意识的处理源于广泛分布的大脑区域之间的连贯神经元活动，其中额顶联合皮质是关键要素。在这个模型中，有意识和无意识状态之间的转换预计是由这个分布式神经空间内相干水平的突然非线性大规模变化引起的。癫痫发作提供了一个独特的模型来探索这一中心假设的有效性。癫痫发作的特征通常是发生严重的意识改变 (AOC)，这在很大程度上对患者的生活产生了负面影响。最近，我们已经表明，这些突然的 AOC 与远处皮质-皮质和皮质-丘脑网络中神经同步的非线性增加是同时发生的。我们根据 GW 理论解释了这些结果，并建议过度同步可能会阻止这个分布式网络达到意识表征编码所需的最小差异化和复杂性水平。这些观察结果既证实了 GW 模型的一些预测，又进一步指定了与意识处理相关的神经连贯性（最小值和最大值）的生理窗口。