Ask, and You Shall Receive: A Closer Look on Unsolved Consciousness Issue.

Consciousness lacks a single agreed definition, but recent neuroscience has removed earlier conceptual obstacles. By integrating brain-function findings with philosophical theories, a more comprehensive understanding has emerged. This narrative review covers cultural and historical views of consciousness from ancient to medieval times, introduces key philosophical debates on mind and body, and examines how brain function and connectivity—including neural correlates of consciousness, loop connectivity, and lateralization—correlate with conscious states. The review argues that merging neuroscientific data with philosophical perspectives, such as higher-order, reflexive, and representationalist theories, yields a more unified picture of consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

There are numerous views about the concept of consciousness, and no consensus exists regarding its meaning. However, the latest neuroscientific developments have eliminated the misleading obstacles related to consciousness. Over the last few decades, neuroscientific efforts in determining the function of the brain and merging these findings with philosophical theories have brought a more comprehensive perception of the notion of consciousness. In addition to metaphysical or ontological views of consciousness, e.g. higher-order theories, reflexive theories, and representationalist theories, there are some brain-directed topics in this matter, which include but are not limited to neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), brain loop connectivity, and lateralization. This narrative review sheds light on cultural and historical aspects of consciousness in the old and middle ages and introduces some prominent philosophical discussions about mind and body. Also, it illustrates the correlation of brain function with states of consciousness with a focus on the roles of function and connectivity.