Using Brain Stimulation to Disentangle Neural Correlates of Conscious Vision
Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2014 Tom Alexander de Graaf, Alexander T eSack
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can help clarify which brain processes are necessary for conscious vision versus those that are merely correlated with it. Neuroimaging methods like fMRI or EEG reveal brain activity linked to conscious perception, but they cannot distinguish whether that activity is a prerequisite, a consequence, or a substrate of conscious experience. By temporarily altering brain activity, NIBS allows researchers to test causal roles, thereby disentangling the neural correlates of consciousness. This review discusses how these techniques advance understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying conscious vision.