Using multivariate decoding to go beyond contrastive analyses in consciousness research

Moving beyond the traditional method of contrasting conscious and unconscious conditions can improve the search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). Existing paradigms that control for precursors and consequences of consciousness offer advantages but also have pitfalls. Multivariate decoding of neural activity patterns is proposed as a supplement because it can detect which patterns consistently predict conscious experiences on single trials. The NCC proper should be consistently predictive, whereas consequences of consciousness may not occur on every trial and prerequisites may be present without conscious experience, making both less predictive.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Contrasting conditions with and without awareness has been the preferred method for investigating the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) for decades, yet recently it has been suggested that further insights can be made by moving beyond this method, specifically by meticulously controlling that potential precursors and consequences of the NCC are not mistaken for an NCC. Here, we briefly review the advantages and potential pitfalls of existing paradigms going beyond the contrastive method, and we propose multivariate decoding of neural activity patterns as a supplement to other methods. Specifically, we emphasize the ability of multivariate decoding to detect which patterns of neural activity are consistently predictive of conscious experiences at the single trial level. This is relevant as the “NCC proper” is expected to be consistently predictive whereas processes that are consequences of consciousness may not occur on every trial (making them less predictive) and prerequisites of consciousness may be present on some trials without conscious experience (making them less predictive).