On the various neural correlates of consciousness

Neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) include three distinct components: neural substrates that directly represent conscious experience, neural prerequisites that must occur before an experience, and neural consequences that follow it. In standard correlative studies, these three types are indistinguishable. A multi-pronged research approach could help separate them. The authors integrate their ideas with other recent work on NCC components and propose strategies to address the empirical-epistemological challenges posed by the problem of three NCCs. They conclude that while the problem is important and difficult, it is not destructive, and the NCC research program still has much to contribute.

Study at a glance

Abstract

What sorts of brain processes covary with consciousness? We argue that empirical neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) include neural substrates (actual conscious experience representation in the brain), neural prerequisites and neural consequences of a conscious experience. In a conventional correlative paradigm, these three NCCs are principally indistinguishable. However a multi-pronged research program might begin to disentangle them. We here integrate our ideas with other recent considerations on the various components of the empirically defined NCC, and propose strategies to address the empirical-epistemological challenges faced by the problem of three NCCs. We conclude that while this problem is important and difficult, it is not destructive. The NCC research program still has much to contribute.