more: "A small group of neurons near the base of the brain ... has executive control over the alert status of the entire cerebrum and spinal cord, and can generate loss of pain sensation, postural collapse and loss of consciousness through specific neural circuitry," said the statement.

The conclusion is reached from the observation that microinjection of tiny quantities of certain anesthetic drugs into this newly discovered "center of consciousness" in laboratory rats induced a profound suppressive effect on the activity of the cerebral cortex, added the statement.

While noting that it is not certain that these results will translate reliably from rats to man, the researchers predicted that "if they do, there are at least two implications of considerable interest."

The first one is that this knowledge could help improve treatments for disorders of consciousness and its loss, such as insomnia, excessive sleepiness and even coma.

"Perhaps by direct electrica

"Perhaps by direct electrical stimulation of the cells in question, it might prove possible to arouse a patient from coma," said the statement.

The second is that the discovery can be expected to introduce an understanding of the actual wiring diagram that permits a biological machine, the brain, to be conscious.