The grand challenge of consciousness

The article argues that the concept of a 'cognitive unconscious' is fundamentally flawed because it conflates two distinct meanings of the term 'unconscious.' One meaning refers to mental processes that are inaccessible to introspection, while the other refers to neural processes that are not mental at all. The authors contend that much of what is called unconscious cognition is better understood as non-conscious neural activity that lacks the representational content required for genuine mental states. They conclude that the cognitive unconscious is a misleading notion that obscures the true relationship between mind and brain.

Study at a glance

Abstract

OPINION article Front. Psychol., 10 March 2010Sec. Consciousness Research Volume 1 - 2010 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00005