Conscious Perception: Time for an Update?
Moti Salti, Asaf Harel, Sebastien Marti
arXiv Preprint Archive March 24, 2018 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConscious perception may not be a discrete event but a dynamic process in which a stimulus is continuously recoded to fit an ongoing stream of other perceived stimuli. This hypothesis can reconcile inconsistent findings on the timing of neural correlates of consciousness and makes testable predictions. The updating process is governed by context, stimulus saliency, and the observer's goal. The framework challenges the typical distinction between conscious and unconscious information processing.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc Consciousness Neuroscience Perception Cognitive-processing |
| Key finding | Conscious perception is proposed to be a dynamic process of continuous recoding rather than a discrete conscious episode. |
Abstract
Understanding the neural mechanism underlying subjective representation has become a central endeavor in cognitive-neuroscience. In theories of conscious perception, stimulus gaining conscious access is usually considered as a discrete neuronal event to be characterized in time or space, sometimes refer to as a 'conscious episode'. Surprisingly, the alternative hypothesis according to which conscious perception is a dynamic process has been rarely considered. Here, we discuss this hypothesis and envisage its implications. We show how it can reconcile inconsistent empirical findings on the timing of the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), and make testable predictions. According to this hypothesis, a stimulus is consciously perceived for as long as it is recoded to fit an ongoing stream composed of all other perceived stimuli. We suggest that this 'updating' process is governed by at least three factors (1) context, (2) stimulus saliency and (3) observer's goal. Finally, this framework forces us to reconsider the typical distinction between conscious and unconscious information processing.