Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
January 7, 2026
Andrew E Budson, Hinze Hogendoorn, Donna Rose Addis
Our theories stemming from perception, memory, and neurology came to similar and complementary conclusions regarding the mechanism of conscious brain processes. We suggest that consciousness is the explicit memory of past events or the general cognitive capacity to simulate events, whether used to consciously remember the past, experience the present, or imagine the future. Perceptual...
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
October 18, 2025
Joshua G Berenbaum, Benjamin Morrison, Brenna Hagan et al.
The frontal cortex plays a key role in many functions considered to be relevant for consciousness. Furthermore, altered consciousness appears to exist in those with disorders that disrupt or damage frontal areas and/or networks. This article reviews recent research discussing the impact of frontal disorders on consciousness. Many theories of consciousness have been developed over the last...
Nature and Science of Sleep
August 26, 2025
Andrew E Budson, Ken A Paller
Insights into the mysteries of dreaming and waking conscious experience can be gained by considering fundamental concepts in memory research. To support this assertion, we first provide an overview of the conscious/nonconscious distinction in memory research and then summarize the memory theory of consciousness (MToC). According to the MToC, the brain system responsible for explicit memory is...
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
June 12, 2023
Garrett Friedman, Katherine W. Turk, Andrew E Budson
28 citations
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this review, we summarize the current understanding of consciousness including its neuroanatomic basis. We discuss major theories of consciousness, physical exam-based and electroencephalographic metrics used to stratify levels of consciousness, and tools used to shed light on the neural correlates of the conscious experience. Lastly, we review an expanded category of...
Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
December 1, 2022
Andrew E Budson, Kenneth A Richman, Elizabeth A. Kensinger
We suggest that there is confusion between why consciousness developed and what additional functions, through continued evolution, it has co-opted. Consider episodic memory. If we believe that episodic memory evolved solely to accurately represent past events, it seems like a terrible system-prone to forgetting and false memories. However, if we believe that episodic memory developed to...