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Towards a conscious model of consciousness
Ranulfo Romo1,2, Román Rossi-Pool1
1Instituto de Fisiología Celular -Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México México City, Mexico.
Cognitive Neuropsychology
|February 19, 2020
Summary
Neuroscience explains how the brain generates voluntary movement and consciousness. Several theories, including global workspace (GWT) and illusionist (IT), attempt to explain consciousness, differing in complexity and approach.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Human ancestors recognized the brain's role in mind and movement millennia ago.
- A significant societal and scientific divide exists regarding consciousness: a neurobiological process versus an immaterial substance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how the brain generates voluntary movement and imbues it with consciousness.
- To review and compare prominent theories of consciousness, examining their neurobiological and psychological underpinnings.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of existing consciousness theories.
- Literature review of neurobiological and psychological perspectives on consciousness.
Main Results:
- Four major theories of consciousness are presented: Global Workspace Theory (GWT), Attention Schema Theory (AST), Higher-Order Thought (HOT) theory, and Illusionist Theory (IT).
- These theories vary in their complexity and explanatory focus, ranging from purely neurobiological to psychological-folk interpretations.
Conclusions:
- Understanding consciousness requires integrating neurobiological and psychological insights.
- The diversity of theories highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of consciousness research.
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