Context-Sensitive Conscious Interpretation and Layer-5 Pyramidal Neurons in Multistable Perception

There appears to be a fundamental difference between the two ways of how an object becomes perceptually experienced. One occurs when preconscious object-specifying sensory data processing crosses a certain threshold so that sensory constituents of object depiction become consciously experienced. The other occurs when the already consciously experienced sensory features of the object become interpreted as belonging to a certain visual object category. Surprisingly, experimental facts about neural markers of conscious access gathered so far do not allow us to distinguish mechanisms responsible for these two varieties.

A cortical multicompartment layer-5 pyramidal neuron-based generic processing model is presented in order to conceptualize a possible mechanistic solution for the explanatory cul-de-sac. To support the argument, a review of pertinent research is compiled as associated with data from studies where physically invariant perceptual stimuli have underwent alternative interpretation(s) by the brain.

Recent developments in the newly emerging field of cellular psycho(physio)logy are introduced, offering a hypothetical solution for distinguishing the mechanisms subserving sensory content experience and conscious interpretation.

The multicompartment single cell-based mechanistic approach to brain process correlates of conscious perception appears to have an added value beyond the traditional inter-areal connectivity-based theoretical stances.