[Consciousness and evoked cerebral cortical electrical activity].

The analysis of the late positive wave (component P300) of an averaged evoked potential, recorded to visual stimuli in different experimental situations has shown that local activation of the cerebral cortex during conscious experience (Pavlovian "light spot") is of a dynamic nature and is determined by signal significance of stimuli and predominant voluntary activity. In cases when it is necessary to decide on the choice of reaction anterior areas of neocortex are activated. If the function of perception is dominating the local activation essentially occurs in corresponding cortical area at which the perceived stimulus is timed. The cortico-thalamo-cortical mechanism of focused attention and its role in providing for conscious human experience is discussed.