Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence
bioRxiv Preprint Server March 19, 2017 Melanie Boly, Marcello Massimini, Naotsugu Tsychiya et al. 56 citations preprint
The role of the frontal cortex in consciousness is debated. This perspective critically reviews clinical and neuroimaging evidence on whether the front or back of the cortex specifies conscious contents, and discusses promising research avenues. The authors argue that current evidence does not clearly support a primary role for the frontal cortex in generating conscious experience, pointing instead to posterior regions as more directly involved. They suggest that future research should focus on distinguishing neural correlates of consciousness from prerequisites and consequences.