Overview

• Researchers have identified a 'default ascending arousal network' in the brainstem crucial for maintaining wakefulness.
• The study combines data from postmortem and living subjects to create detailed maps of brain connectivity.
• Findings could improve treatments for coma and vegetative state patients by targeting specific brain areas.
• The ventral tegmental area, a key node, links arousal and awareness networks, pivotal in sustaining consciousness.
• This groundbreaking research offers potential clinical applications, including reactivating consciousness in coma patients.