The neural hierarchy of consciousness: A theoretical model and review on neurophysiology and NCCs.
Neuropsychologia May 3, 2022 Victor N Almeida
The study of consciousness is stuck in a stalemate between two major theories: the Global Neuronal Workspace and Recurrent Processing. This theoretical review aims to bridge that gap by first summarizing solid neurophysiological evidence on consciousness, then constructing a model—the Neural Hierarchy—that reconciles the all-or-none cortical ignition (P3b) and graded recurrent processing (VAN) accounts. The model supports a levels of processing approach, dividing conscious architecture into lower- and higher-order components that are both graded and nonlinear.