Consciousness facilitates model-based planning, but is that really why consciousness evolved?
Behav Brain Sci June 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103026 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the temporal profile of consciousness is an under-exploited constraint on theories of consciousness and that a rival hypothesis proposes a time delay to consciousness in the 100–200ms range for representing distal objects in aquatic environments. |
Abstract
Abstract The authors make a timely argument that the temporal profile of consciousness is an under-exploited constraint on theories of consciousness. However, the exact timing matters for the evolutionary hypothesis. A rival hypothesis is that in aquatic environments, it already had the function of representing distal objects, with a time-delay to consciousness in the 100–200ms range.