Abstract:
Understanding consciousness requires navigating its complex neural landscape. In this talk, I will present recent research that maps the dynamic dialogue between the cerebral cortex and thalamus, shedding light on the neural foundations of consciousness. I will introduce the concept of functional geometry, highlighting how cortical organization—captured by cortical gradients—relates to conscious states. Using these gradients as a guide, we can chart the thalamus and uncover how its structure supports different modes of information processing. Anesthetics and deep sleep dramatically reshape this brain map, offering critical insights into how consciousness is disrupted and restored. By examining specific thalamic cells and neurochemical pathways, we identify shared mechanisms underlying anesthesia and sleep. Finally, I will demonstrate how non-invasive brain stimulation of the thalamus can directly modulate conscious perception, opening new possibilities for probing—and perhaps even controlling—consciousness itself.
Bio:
Zirui Huang, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Consciousness Science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research focuses on deciphering the spatiotemporal architecture of brain activity to unlock the mysteries of consciousness. Drawing on techniques from anesthesiology, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation, he investigates how brain activity is organized across different spatial and temporal scales.

Dr. Huang earned his Ph.D. from the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Ottawa and the University of Michigan. His work, supported by NIH R01 grants, has produced over 60 publications in journals such as Nature Communications and Science Advances, accumulating more than 3,000 citations. He has also been featured in Scientific American and The Scientist.