Consciousness Regained: Disentangling Mechanisms, Brain Systems, and Behavioral Responses

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The mind-body problem, or how consciousness arises from brain processes, is a long-standing scientific challenge.
• Historically viewed as philosophical, consciousness is now a focus in neuroscience due to recent methodological and theoretical advances.
• The search for neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) has identified content-specific and full NCCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent theoretical, experimental, and clinical progress in understanding consciousness.
• To highlight methodological advances for dissociating conscious experience from other brain functions.
• To advocate for objective, brain-based measures of consciousness capacity.

Main Methods:

• Review of methodological advances for isolating neural correlates of consciousness (NCC).
• Reconsideration of the frontal cortex's role in consciousness.
• Proposal for general, objective, brain-based measures of consciousness capacity.
• Analysis of animal studies to reveal population and network phenomena.

Main Results:

• Methodological improvements aid in distinguishing conscious experience from enabling and executive functions.
• Re-evaluating the frontal cortex may refine the delineation of NCCs.
• Animal studies provide insights into population and network mechanisms relevant to consciousness.

Conclusions:

• Advances in methodology and theory are crucial for scientific progress in consciousness research.
• Developing objective, brain-based measures is essential for assessing consciousness capacity.
• Integrating findings from human and animal studies will advance our understanding of consciousness mechanisms.