Brainstem's role in consciousness explained by MRI scans

New research suggests the brainstem may sustain wakefulness in human consciousness, aiding understanding of altered states like comas. Harvard Medical School found a connection between the brainstem and awareness in 2016. A new study identified the default ascending arousal network (dAAN) in the brainstem, linking it to conscious awareness in the cortex. MRI scans revealed the ventral tegmental area's role in sustaining wakefulness. The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.