The ConCrit Framework: Critical Brain Dynamics as a Unifying Mechanistic Framework for Theories of Consciousness.
Inbal Algom, Oren Shriki
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews November 19, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106483 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Computational neuroscience Critical brain dynamics General anesthesia Psychedelics Sleep Theories of consciousness Mental experience Conscious states Critical "tipping point" Critical balance |
| Key findings | The ConCrit framework suggests that consciousness is most likely to occur when neural networks operate near a critical transition point, and is lost as the system deviates from this regime. |
Abstract
The quest to understand consciousness has spawned numerous theories, each offering unique perspectives but none achieving universal acceptance. While these theories provide valuable insights, they often serve more as guiding narratives than mechanistic frameworks for empirical validation. Here, we propose that incorporating critical brain dynamics - the idea that neural networks operate near a critical transition point - may offer a more cohesive understanding of consciousness. We term this hypothesis the ConCrit framework, combining the concepts of consciousness and criticality. By reviewing empirical evidence and computational models, we suggest that near-critical systems exhibit many properties aligned with leading theories of consciousness. Specifically, approaching a critical point enhances the complexity and richness of internal representations and heightens sensitivity to the system's own state. Consequently, a system capable of conscious experience is more likely to exhibit consciousness near criticality and lose it as it deviates from this regime. In this paper, we review the concepts of criticality and critical brain dynamics, explore their relationship with consciousness from theoretical and empirical perspectives, and outline key implications and predictions.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. | 2020 | Review | |
| Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. | 2005 | Review | |
| Intrinsic Brain Activity in Altered States of Consciousness | 2008 | Review | |
| Dynamic functional connectivity and brain metastability during altered states of consciousness | 2017 | Review | |
| A default mode of brain function in altered states of consciousness. | 2013 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 34
- On a confusion about a function of consciousness Behavioral and Brain Sciences June 1, 1995
- An information integration theory of consciousness BMC Neuroscience November 2, 2004
- Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems Nature Reviews Neuroscience April 20, 2016
- A Theoretically Based Index of Consciousness Independent of Sensory Processing and Behavior Science Translational Medicine August 14, 2013
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
and 29 more in the library