A global workspace model for phenomenal and access consciousness.
Antonino Raffone, Martina Pantani
Consciousness and Cognition June 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2010.03.013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 51 |
| Key points | Proposes a unifying global workspace model where recurrent neural interactions in distinct access and phenomenal brain loops, along with two forms of top-down attention, account for phenomenal and access consciousness. |
Abstract
Both the global workspace theory and Block's distinction between phenomenal and access consciousness, are central in the current debates about consciousness and the neural correlates of consciousness. In this article, a unifying global workspace model for phenomenal and access consciousness is proposed. In the model, recurrent neural interactions take place in distinct yet interacting access and phenomenal brain loops. The effectiveness of feedback signaling onto sensory cortical maps is emphasized for the neural correlates of phenomenal consciousness. Two forms of top-down attention, attention for perception and attention for access, play differential roles for phenomenal and access consciousness. The model is implemented in a neural network form, with the simulation of single and multiple visual object processing, and of the attentional blink.