Epistemological challenges for neural correlates of consciousness: A defense of medical research on consciousness.
Armance Neveu, Vincent Degos, Anouk Barberousse
Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2023.104183 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Disorders of consciousness Epistemology Intensive care |
| Key points | Argues that a global or "state-based" approach to consciousness, derived from clinical research on disorders of consciousness, is more reliable than the dominant content-based or "local" conception for overcoming the "Problem of coordination." |
Abstract
Recent work in the field of consciousness science has predominantly focused on the search for neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). However, despite significant technological advances in recent decades, defining NCC remains an ambitious goal in consciousness research. The main difficulty stems from an epistemological challenge known as the "Problem of coordination", which hinders or at least slows down the experimental process inherent to the study of consciousness. Fundamental research has mainly focused on a content-based conception of consciousness, often referred to as a "local" conception of consciousness. This approach suffers from the Problem of coordination and its consequences. However, an alternative, more reliable approach could be considered, namely, the global or "state-based" approach, which is grounded in clinical research on consciousness disorders.