A framework for consciousness
Francis C. Crick, Christof Koch
Nature Neuroscience February 1, 2003 DOI: 10.1038/nn0203-119 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that visual consciousness can be explained by a framework of competing cellular assemblies, offering a coherent scheme for its neural correlates. The combination of previously suggested ideas is presented as original. |
Abstract
Here we summarize our present approach to the problem of consciousness. After an introduction outlining our general strategy, we describe what is meant by the term 'framework' and set it out under ten headings. This framework offers a coherent scheme for explaining the neural correlates of (visual) consciousness in terms of competing cellular assemblies. Most of the ideas we favor have been suggested before, but their combination is original. We also outline some general experimental approaches to the problem and, finally, acknowledge some relevant aspects of the brain that have been left out of the proposed framework.