Dementia and the boundary between conscious and nonconscious awareness
Advances in Consciousness Research October 28, 2010 DOI: 10.1075/aicr.79.24col (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that consciousness survives the extreme neural damage of dementing illnesses, as evidenced by maintained alertness, preserved awareness, and hallucinations, implying conscious processes are highly robust and conscious content is always present. |
Abstract
Dementing illnesses massively damage the structures and processes thought to underlie consciousness. However, maintained alertness, preserved awareness, and the appearance of hallucinations in people with dementia all suggest that consciousness survives extreme challenge; implying that conscious processes are extremely robust, and conscious content invariably present.