New evidence and challenges in ERP and MEG correlates of consciousness in vision: A systematized review.
Dmitri Filimonov, Mika Koivisto, Antti Revonsuo
NeuroImage January 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121762
Summary
Unlocking the secrets of visual consciousness, a specific brain signal, Visual Awareness Negativity (VAN), stands out as the most reliable neural correlate of consciousness. This EEG-measured ERP component, often termed Perceptual Awareness Negativity, directly reflects conscious perception. A comprehensive review of 53 recent studies affirms VAN’s robust link to awareness, unlike Late Positivity, which reflects broader processes. This evidence significantly refines theories of consciousness by pinpointing VAN as a primary indicator of visual consciousness.
Abstract
The past twenty years of research have revealed two event-related potential (ERP) components to be the most reliably occurring neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) in vision: an early visual awareness negativity (VAN) in the N2 and late positivity (LP) in the P3 time window. Three previous extensive reviews concluded that VAN is a proper visual NCC, which is solely modulated by awareness. During the last five years since the latest review was published, a large body of new evidence has emerged about the ERP correlates of visual consciousness. In this systematized review we update the results of the previous reviews by analyzing new studies published since 2020 (N = 53) and discussing their findings. The new evidence is consistent with the earlier reviews: VAN is still found to be the most reliable and robust ERP NCC in vision, whereas LP reflects also many other processes, not consciousness as such. However, several aspects of VAN, for example, its relationship to attention and simultaneous physiological factors, require further investigation.