Frequency-selective brain state regulation with optogenetic stimulation of central thalamus in unconscious rats

Motivation: There is a lack of effective treatments and understanding of the mechanisms behind disorders of consciousness, including coma. Goal(s): Explore the mechanisms behind thalamus-mediated subcortical reactivation to promote effective therapies for disorders of consciousness. Approach: Study brain changes induced by optogenetic stimulation of the central thalamus (CThal) at different frequencies in unconscious rats with fMRI and electrophysiology. Results: CThal stimulation can trigger brain state changes and electrophysiologically activate the cingulate cortex and other areas of the cortex similar to a more conscious state. BOLD signal activation in the cortex seems to be dependent on the CThal stimulation frequency. Impact: This study provides useful insights into frequency-dependent central thalamus-mediated brain state changes and offers opportunities to investigate the potential of CThal stimulation in promoting subcortical reactivation and acute coma recovery in a rodent model.