Towards causal mechanisms of consciousness through focused transcranial brain stimulation
Neuroscience of Consciousness January 1, 2023 Marek Havlík, J. Hlinka, M. Klírová et al.
The science of consciousness has largely relied on identifying neural correlates of conscious experience, but this approach has not yet yielded a mechanistic understanding. Advances in brain stimulation techniques, such as geodesic transcranial electric neuromodulation, now make it possible to move beyond correlation and toward causal explanations. By directly altering neural activity, researchers can test hypotheses about the mechanisms that generate conscious states, overcoming the limitations of purely observational methods. This shift promises to advance the empirical study of consciousness.