Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence
Melanie Boly, Marcello Massimini, Naotsugu Tsychiya, Bradley R. Postle, Christof Koch, Giulio Tononi
bioRxiv Preprint Server March 19, 2017 preprint DOI: 10.1101/118273 via bioRxiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe role of the frontal cortex in consciousness is debated. This perspective critically reviews clinical and neuroimaging evidence on whether the front or back of the cortex specifies conscious contents, and discusses promising research avenues. The authors argue that current evidence does not clearly support a primary role for the frontal cortex in generating conscious experience, pointing instead to posterior regions as more directly involved. They suggest that future research should focus on distinguishing neural correlates of consciousness from prerequisites and consequences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Perspective |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness:conscious experience Awareness Neuroimaging:brain imaging evidence Brain activity Brain regions:frontal cortex |
| Citations | 56 |
| Key finding | Clinical and neuroimaging evidence suggests that posterior cortical regions, rather than the frontal cortex, are more directly involved in specifying conscious contents. |
Abstract
The role of the frontal cortex in consciousness remains a matter of debate. In this Perspective, we will critically review the clinical and neuroimaging evidence for the involvement of the front versus back of the cortex in specifying conscious contents and discuss promising research avenues.