Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced physical...
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain that...
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation01:13

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...
Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Authoritarian leaders and self-control by their population.

Trends in neuroscience and education·2026
Same author

Building attention on a firm foundation.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2025
Same author

Development of a checklist for cognitive assessment requirements (CARE) based on a Delphi consensus study.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

JEP: HPP Vol. 1 and current research.

Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance·2025
Same author

Orienting of attention and spatial cognition.

Cognitive processing·2024
Same author

Molecular Mechanisms for Changing Brain Connectivity in Mice and Humans.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
09:37

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Attentional networks and consciousness.

Michael I Posner1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Oregon Eugene, OR, USA.

Frontiers in Psychology
|March 15, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Scientists explored three definitions of consciousness, finding overlaps with attentional networks. Understanding these attentional networks can help refine our concepts of consciousness and its neural basis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • The term 'consciousness' is used diversely across fields like neurology, feminism, and philosophy.
  • This ambiguity complicates scientific investigation into the neural basis of consciousness.
  • Operational definitions are needed to study consciousness effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between different facets of consciousness and attentional networks.
  • To investigate how knowledge of attentional networks can inform theories of consciousness.
  • To propose a framework for understanding consciousness through its overlap with attention.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing literature on consciousness and attentional networks.
  • Comparison of three operational definitions of consciousness with known attentional mechanisms.
Keywords:
alertingattention networksexecutiveorienting

More Related Videos

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
06:46

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Published on: March 18, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
09:37

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
06:46

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Published on: March 18, 2019

  • Integration of findings from cognitive neuroscience studies on attention.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified three key aspects of consciousness: neurological orientation, information selection for awareness, and voluntary response control.
    • Demonstrated significant overlap between these aspects of consciousness and various attentional networks.
    • Attentional networks provide a potential framework for constraining and operationalizing the study of consciousness.

    Conclusions:

    • The study highlights the interconnectedness of consciousness and attention.
    • Attentional networks offer a promising avenue for understanding the neural underpinnings of consciousness.
    • Further research into attentional mechanisms can refine our scientific models of consciousness.