Editing Claustrum (section)

=== Potential function ===
The claustrum, in order to facilitate consciousness, would need to integrate various sensory and motor modalities from various parts of the cortex. The anatomical connections of the claustrum have been observed using [[diffusion tensor imaging]] (DTI). A [[functional magnetic resonance imaging]] (fMRI) scan looks at oxygenated blood levels in the brain as a way of observing the activity of specific cortical areas. fMRI scans show dampened activity when anesthetized versus awake in rats, specifically claustrum connections to the [[medial prefrontal cortex]] (mPFC) and the [[Medial dorsal nucleus|mediodorsal thalamus]] (MD thalamus). The claustrum is connected with the contralateral hemisphere's claustrum with strong, functional connections. Connections with MD thalamus, mPFC, and surrounding and distant cortical areas also exist.<ref name="Smith2017" />

Electrical stimulation in the dorsal claustrum of cats elicits excitatory responses within the visual cortex. The claustrum is situated anatomically at the confluence of a large number of white-matter tracts used to connect different parts of the cortex. This further suggests an integration center role for these different modalities, such as sensory and motor. Gap junctions have been shown to exist between aspiny (lacking dendrite projections) interneurons of the claustrum – suggesting a role in its ability to synchronize these modalities as input is received.<ref name="Crick2005" />

Additional studies point to involvement in [[Spatial memory|spatial navigation]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Grasby K, Talk A | title = The anterior claustrum and spatial reversal learning in rats | journal = Brain Research | volume = 1499 | pages = 43–52 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 23318254 | doi = 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.01.014 | s2cid = 19605350 }}</ref> and [[slow-wave sleep]].<ref name="Norimoto2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Norimoto et al. | title = A claustrum in reptiles and its role in slow-wave sleep | journal = Nature | volume = 578 | pages = 413–418 | date = 2020 | issue = 7795 | pmid = 32051589 | doi = 10.1038/s41586-020-1993-6 | bibcode = 2020Natur.578..413N | s2cid = 256820426 | url = http://id.nii.ac.jp/1394/00001182/ | hdl = 21.11116/0000-0008-09DB-8 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Narikiyo2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Narikiyo et al. | title = The claustrum coordinates cortical slow-wave activity | journal = Nature Neuroscience | volume = 23 | pages = 741–753 | date = 2020 | issue = 6 | pmid = 32393895| doi = 10.1038/s41593-020-0625-7 | s2cid = 256840965 }}</ref>