| Consciousness has drawn much attention and is known as the ultimate mystery of humanity.The unclear neural mechanisms of consciousness pose challenges in diagnosing and treating disorders of consciousness.Numerous studies have shown that loss and recovery of consciousness is an effective means to explore the neural mechanisms of consciousness.Nonhuman primates,which share brain structures and functions highly similar to humans,are ideal model animals for studying consciousness problems.We hypothesize that establishing a nonhuman primate model with disorders of consciousness as an operable open window for consciousness research,combined with the behavioral evaluation method of consciousness and advanced neurobiological techniques such as two-photon calcium imaging,may help further decode the neural mechanisms of consciousness.This study developed a conscious behavioral evaluation scale and usage method for nonhuman primate model with disorders of consciousness based on the consciousness behavioral characteristics of nonhuman primates and the clinical consciousness behavioral assessment scales for patients with disorders of consciousness,including seven dimensions and thirty-seven items,such as visual function,auditory function,motor function,orofacial movement,arousal level,brainstem reflex,and respiratory function.The Delphi study confirmed the importance and operability of those items in the scale,and expert evaluation opinions were consistent and concentrated.Then,we constructed three simulated animal disease models of loss of consciousness,continuous consciousness deficiency,and recovery of consciousness through anesthesia,using the nonhuman primate rhesus monkey as the experimental subject.Combining the self-developed consciousness behavioral assessment method,we achieved dynamic evaluation and differential analysis of the changes in the animal model’s consciousness behavior.The EEG results showed that the animal model’s five dimensions of consciousness behavior were positively correlated with the prefrontal function connection and gamma power spectrum density.Additionally,we detected the effect of median nerve electrical stimulation on promoting consciousness behavior recovery in clinical consciousness disorder treatment by establishing a nonhuman primate model with disorders of consciousness receiving treatment.The EEG results showed that the animal model’s brain electrical activity had a differential response to median nerve electrical stimulation.Lastly,we provided the in vivo experimental evidence for the population neuronal activity of the rodent prefrontal cortex related to consciousness state changes and median nerve electrical stimulation by two-photon calcium imaging technology,and also conducted partial work on the rhesus monkeys.The above work indicates that constructing a nonhuman primate model with disorders of consciousness for exploring the neural mechanisms of consciousness is feasible.Our work conducted multidimensional exploratory work around constructing a nonhuman primate model with disorders of consciousness that can be used for studying the neural mechanisms of consciousness,providing new tools for further research into the neural mechanisms of consciousness,which has significant scientific significance.It also provides experimental platform support for developing,optimizing,and transforming rehabilitation therapies on disorders of consciousness,which have significant clinical and social value. |
