Are There Levels of Consciousness?
The notion of a level of consciousness is a key construct in the science of consciousness. Not only is the term employed to describe the global states of consciousness that are associated with post-comatose disorders, epileptic absence seizures, anaesthesia, and sleep, it plays an increasingly influential role in theoretical and methodological contexts. However, it is far from clear what precisely a level of consciousness is supposed to be. This paper argues that the levels-based framework for conceptualizing global states of consciousness is untenable and develops in its place a multidimensional account of global states.
Rotman Institute of Philosophy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B8, Canada; Department of Philosophy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: tim.bayne@gmail.com.
Tim
T
Bayne
Cognition and Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Jakob
J
Hohwy
The Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
Adrian M
AM
Owen
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
anaesthesia; disorders of consciousness; global state of consciousness; levels of consciousness; sedation; sleep