In the search for the neural correlates of consciousness, it has remained controversial whether prefrontal cortex determines what is consciously experienced or, alternatively, serves only complementary functions such as introspection or action. Here, we provide converging evidence from computational modeling and two functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments for a key role of inferior frontal cortex in detecting perceptual conflicts that emerge from ambiguous sensory information. Crucially, the detection of perceptual conflicts by prefrontal cortex turned out to be critical in the process of transforming ambiguous sensory information into unambiguous conscious experiences: In a third experiment, disruption of neural activity in inferior frontal cortex through transcranial magnetic stimulation slowed down the updating of conscious experience that occurs in response to perceptual conflicts. These findings show that inferior frontal cortex actively contributes to the resolution of perceptual ambiguities. Prefrontal cortex is thus causally involved in determining the contents of conscious experience.

中文翻译：

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下意识皮层在有意识的经历中发挥积极作用的证据

在寻找意识的神经相关性时，前额叶皮层是否确定有意识地经历了什么，或者仅起到补充作用，例如自省或行动，一直存在争议。在这里，我们提供了来自计算模型和两个功能性磁共振成像实验的融合证据，这些证据表明下额叶皮层在检测由歧义感官信息产生的知觉冲突中的关键作用。至关重要的是，在将模棱两可的感官信息转化为模棱两可的意识体验的过程中，前额叶皮层的知觉冲突检测至关重要：在第三个实验中，通过经颅磁刺激破坏下额叶皮层神经活动减慢了因知觉冲突而发生的意识体验的更新。这些发现表明，额叶下部皮质对分辨知觉歧义有积极作用。因此，前额叶皮层因果关系参与确定意识体验的内容。