title: A framework for consciousness.
abstract: Here we summarize our present approach to the problem of consciousness. After an introduction outlining our general strategy, we describe what is meant by the term 'framework' and set it out under ten headings. This framework offers a coherent scheme for explaining the neural correlates of (visual) consciousness in terms of competing cellular assemblies. Most of the ideas we favor have been suggested before, but their combination is original. We also outline some general experimental approaches to the problem and, finally, acknowledge some relevant aspects of the brain that have been left out of the proposed framework.
authors.affiliation: Francis Crick is at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crick
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology