How neuroscience will change our view on consciousness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The study of consciousness faces persistent challenges in answering fundamental questions about its nature and presence in various states or entities.
• Current scientific and philosophical approaches often rely heavily on introspection and observable behavior, which may be insufficient for understanding subjective experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the limitations of introspection and behavior in consciousness research.
• To propose alternative methods using neuroscience, theoretical, and ontological arguments to understand the nature of conscious sensation.
• To challenge existing theories, such as Global Workspace theory, by demonstrating a broader scope of visual perception than commonly assumed.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of limitations in traditional consciousness research methods (introspection, behavior).
• Presentation of a visual perception experiment to illustrate the gap between perceived and actual awareness.
• Integration of neuroscience findings with theoretical and ontological arguments.

Main Results:

• Introspection and behavior are unreliable indicators of conscious awareness.
• Neuroscience, theoretical, and ontological arguments offer a more robust framework for studying consciousness.
• The study suggests that visual perception encompasses more than immediate subjective awareness, contrasting with Global Workspace theory's focus on access.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking the methodology of consciousness studies is crucial, moving beyond subjective experience and observable actions.
• Neuroscience provides critical insights that can redefine our understanding of consciousness, potentially challenging deeply held intuitions about selfhood.
• Global Workspace theory may explain information access but not the full extent of visual perception or subjective experience.