Editing Claustrum (section)

=== Empirical evidence ===
[[Tetanic stimulation|High frequency stimulation]] (HFS) in cat claustrum(s) has the capability to induce autonomic changes and induce “inactivation syndrome”. This syndrome is described as a decrease in awareness, indicating the relationship between the claustrum and consciousness.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gabor |first1=Andrew J. |last2=Peele |first2=Talmage L. |title=Alterations of behavior following stimulation of the claustrum of the cat |journal=Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology |date=November 1964 |volume=17 |issue=5 |pages=513–519 |doi=10.1016/0013-4694(64)90181-6 |pmid=14229851 }}</ref> In humans this same effect can be observed. Stimulation of the left claustrum in humans has produced "a complete arrest of volitional behavior, unresponsiveness, and amnesia without negative motor symptoms, or mere aphasia" suggesting the involvement in consciousness.<ref name="Koubeissi-2014" /> Furthermore, MRI studies have shown that increased signal intensity within the claustrum has been associated with status epilepticus – a condition in which epileptic seizures follow one another without recovery of consciousness between events.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Silva G, Jacob S, Melo C, Alves D, Costa D | title = Claustrum sign in a child with refractory status epilepticus after febrile illness: why does it happen? | journal = Acta Neurologica Belgica | volume = 118 | issue = 2 | pages = 303–305 | date = June 2018 | pmid = 28741106 | doi = 10.1007/s13760-017-0820-9 | s2cid = 32771124 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Meletti S, Slonkova J, Mareckova I, Monti G, Specchio N, Hon P, Giovannini G, Marcian V, Chiari A, Krupa P, Pietrafusa N, Berankova D, Bar M | title = Claustrum damage and refractory status epilepticus following febrile illness | journal = Neurology | volume = 85 | issue = 14 | pages = 1224–32 | date = October 2015 | pmid = 26341869 | pmc = 4607596 | doi = 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001996 }}</ref> As well, increased signal intensity is associated with focal dyscognitive seizures, which are seizures that elicit impairment of awareness or consciousness without convulsions. The individual becomes unaware of his or her environment, and the seizure will manifest as a blank or empty stare for a window of time.

Using an operant conditioning task combined with HFS of the claustrum resulted in significant behavioural changes of rats; this included modulated motor responses, inactivity and decreased responsiveness.<ref name="Koubeissi-2014"/> Beyond this, studies have also shown that the claustrum is active during REM sleep, alongside other structures such as the dentate gyrus. These have associative roles in spatial memory, suggesting that some form of memory consolidation takes place in these areas.<ref name="Brown" />