Global Workspace Theory (GWT), originally a psychological theory of conscious cognition from the 1980s, has evolved into Global Workspace Dynamics (GWD) based on modern neuroscientific evidence. The theory views consciousness as arising from highly integrated, widespread cortico-thalamic activity. This paper corrects misunderstandings, particularly the claim that the prefrontal cortex (PfC) is not causally involved in enabling consciousness. The authors argue that brain evidence now compellingly shows PfC participates in the visual conscious stream. They also clarify that GWT does not assert PfC is essential for conscious vision, nor does it deny a role for the prefrontal lobe. Additionally, they address misconceptions about metacognition within the Global Workspace family of theories, noting that Baars described two varieties of metacognition implied by GWT in 1988.
EEG recordings in humans and other mammals show beta/gamma oscillations (20-80 Hz) that self-organize into spatio-temporal structures recurring at theta/alpha rates (4-12 Hz), correlating with sensory stimuli and reinforcement contingencies. These structures repeatedly collapse, generating laterally propagating phase gradients (phase cones) that may be neural signatures of transient perceptual experiences. According to neuropercolation theory, waking brains operate as non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems at the edge of criticality, undergoing repeated phase transitions. Long-range axonal connections and metabolic processes regulate this critical dynamics. This cortical operating style may optimize a tradeoff between rapid adaptation and stable self-organization, offering Darwinian benefits.