# Mechanisms of Loss, Recovery and Disorders of Consciousness

> **NIH GM R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2026 · $593,857

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long-term objective of this proposal is to understand cortical mechanisms underlying loss, recovery, and
disorders of consciousness. We have previously characterized neural activity associated with different stages
of general anesthesia and sleep. Each of these stages is composed of distinct states of arousal and
awareness, such as fluctuations between dreaming and unconsciousness. Finding neural underpinnings of
these processes is necessary for understanding the neural basis of consciousness. This proposal takes
advantage of the unique opportunity to directly record from the human brain in neurosurgical epilepsy patients.
We will use intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to identify signatures of unconsciousness and
distinguish it from three different states of consciousness: waking consciousness, drowsiness, and dreaming.
The scientific premise of this project is that the biomarkers of clinically relevant changes in arousal and
awareness share common features, generalizing beyond specific conditions that cause them. Our work to date
has identified putative biomarkers that show promise for distinguishing states of arousal and awareness. These
biomarkers include region-specific changes in cortical responses to unexpected sounds and speech, and in
patterns of cortical connectivity. Using innovative computational approaches applied to data obtained using
electrical stimulation and recording of ongoing brain activity at rest, we will track rapid transitions in cortical
network configurations. Characterizing these rapid transitions will enable us to identify clinically relevant
changes in arousal and awareness.
Our multimodal approach combines high resolution iEEG with computational modeling, electrical stimulation
tract tracing, conventional scalp-recorded EEG, and magnetic resonance imaging in overlapping sets of human
subjects. We will find reliable biomarkers that can identify distinct states of consciousness that occur during
induction of a

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11323081
- **Project number:** 5R01GM109086-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew I Banks; Kirill V Nourski
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** GM
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $593,857
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-02-15T00:00:00 → 2027-04-30T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11323081

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11323081, Mechanisms of Loss, Recovery and Disorders of Consciousness (5R01GM109086-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-04 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11323081. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*