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The disunity of consciousness.

¹Wellcome Laboratory of Neurobiology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK. zeki.pa@ucl.ac.uk

Progress in Brain Research

|January 2, 2008

Summary

Consciousness may not be a single entity but composed of multiple components, or micro-consciousnesses, distributed across the brain. This challenges the traditional view of a unified consciousness, suggesting a hierarchical structure instead.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Philosophy of Mind

Background:

The prevailing view considers consciousness a unified entity.
Neurobiology seeks a single neural correlate for consciousness.
This perspective is challenged by experimental and clinical findings.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose an alternative model of consciousness.
To present consciousness as a collection of micro-consciousnesses.
To challenge the concept of a single, unified consciousness.

Main Methods:

Analysis of experimental and clinical studies on the primate visual cortex.
Focus on visual consciousness, specifically color and motion perception.
Examination of spatial and temporal mechanisms underlying consciousness.

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Main Results:

Evidence suggests consciousness is not a single unity.
Consciousness comprises multiple components (micro-consciousnesses).
These components are distributed in space and time, forming a hierarchy.

Conclusions:

The traditional concept of a single, unified consciousness is questioned.
Visual consciousness, including color and motion, can arise from distinct mechanisms.
This supports a multi-component model of consciousness.