Neuroscience has revived psychology's original mission to study consciousness empirically. Scientists first examined consciousness in patients presumed unconscious, identifying neural correlates of different conscious states. Technological advances and experimental designs then established key brain correlates for global consciousness (being conscious at all), perceptual consciousness (being conscious of something), and self-consciousness (being conscious of oneself). Studying complex conscious experiences can clarify mechanisms of global consciousness, the link between perceptual and self-consciousness, and interactions among self-consciousness domains. The path forward involves re-establishing psychology as a science of consciousness.
Music reliably alters mental and physical states, making it a natural tool for studying consciousness. This narrative review assesses how empirical research in music psychology and neuroscience has contributed to understanding non-ordinary states of consciousness, including absorption, mind wandering, and creative thought. The authors argue that music's unique capacity to induce such states offers special insight into consciousness, yet music-related studies remain marginalized in the broader field. They critically evaluate key contributions and identify how music's distinctive aspects can shape future investigations. The review concludes that integrating music into consciousness research is essential and highlights promising interdisciplinary avenues for exploration.