Temporo-spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) - Bridging the gap of neuronal activity and phenomenal states.

A review of the Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC) proposes that consciousness arises from the brain's spontaneous activity, not just from external stimuli. The TTC aims to bridge gaps between spontaneous and stimulus-related neural activity and between neuronal and phenomenal features. It introduces four mechanisms—expansion, globalization, alignment, and nestedness—linked to distinct dimensions of consciousness: phenomenal content, access, form/structure, and level/state. The authors conclude the TTC offers a unifying framework for different neuroscientific theories and generates empirically grounded hypotheses about the biological nature of consciousness and its relation to the brain.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Consciousness and its neural mechanisms remain a mystery. Current neuroscientific theories focus predominantly on the external input/stimulus and the associated stimulus-related activity during conscious contents. Despite all progress, we encounter two gaps: (i) a gap between spontaneous and stimulus-related activity; (ii) a gap between neuronal and phenomenal features. A novel, different, and unique approach, Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC) aims to bridge both gaps. The TTC focuses on the brain's spontaneous activity and how its spatial topography and temporal dynamic shape stimulus-related activity and resurface in the corresponding spatial and temporal features of consciousness, i.e., 'common currency'. The TTC introduces four temporo-spatial mechanisms: expansion, globalization, alignment, and nestedness. These are associated with distinct dimensions of consciousness including phenomenal content, access, form/structure, and level/state, respectively. Following up on the first introduction of the TTC in 2017, we review updates, further develop these temporo-spatial mechanisms, and postulate specific neurophenomenal hypotheses. We conclude that the TTC offers a viable approach for (i) linking spontaneous and stimulus-related activity in conscious states; (ii) determining specific neuronal and neurophenomenal mechanisms for the distinct dimensions of consciousness; (iii) an integrative and unifying framework of different neuroscientific theories of consciousness; and (iv) offers novel empirically grounded conceptual assumptions about the biological and ontological nature of consciousness and its relation to the brain.