The ALARM Theory of Consciousness: A Two-Level Theory of Phenomenal Consciousness
Journal of Consciousness Studies March 31, 2023 A. Newen, Carlos Montemayor 8 citations
A novel theoretical framework called the ALARM theory of consciousness distinguishes two levels: basic arousal, an alarm system for survival under sudden intense threats, and general alertness, which enables flexible learning and behavior. This two-level account explains recent discoveries of subcortical brain activities involving the thalamus, differences in non-human animal behavior suggesting two types of conscious experience, unifies neural evidence for subcortical and cortico-cortical processes, and clarifies the evolutionary and functional role of conscious experiences.