The neural correlates of consciousness: new experimental approaches needed?
It appears that consciousness science is progressing soundly, in particular in its search for the neural correlates of consciousness. There are two main approaches to this search, one is content-based (focusing on the contrast between conscious perception of, e.g., faces vs. houses), the other is state-based (focusing on overall conscious states, e.g., the contrast between dreamless sleep vs. the awake state). Methodological and conceptual considerations of a number of concrete studies show that both approaches are problematic: the content-based approach seems to set aside crucial aspects of consciousness; and the state-based approach seems over-inclusive in a way that is hard to rectify without losing sight of the crucial conscious-unconscious contrast. Consequently, the search for the neural correlates of consciousness is in need of new experimental paradigms.
School of Philosophy & Bioethics, Monash University, Australia. jakob.hohwy@arts.monash.edu.au
Jakob
J
Hohwy
D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology; D011340:Problem Solving; D015357:Vision Disparity / Q000502:physiology; D014836:Volition