Neural correlates of consciousness

Consciousness is a puzzling property of complex biological systems that depends on their state. The central question is how immaterial conscious mental states relate to physical brain states. Scientists are using various empirical approaches to investigate the neural basis of consciousness. This article reviews those approaches and summarizes what has been learned so far.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Consciousness is a puzzling, state-dependent property of certain types of complex, biological, adaptive, and highly interconnected systems. A science of consciousness must strive to explain the exact relationship between phenomenal, mental states and brain states. This is the heart of the classical mind-body problem: What is the nature of the relationship between the immaterial, conscious mind and its physical basis in the electrochemical interactions in the body? Brain scientists are exploiting a number of empirical approaches to shed light on the neural basis of consciousness. This article reviews these approaches and summarizes what has been learnt.