Consciousness: How Low Can You Go?

Abstract

Where is visual experience processed in the brain? Visual processing as has three broad stages. First, a low-level feed-forward stage in the visual cortex. Second, a mid-level feed-back recurrent processing stage in the visual cortex. Third, a high-level feed-forward stage to higher brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex. In their review of ‘theories of consciousness’, Seth & Bayne focus on theories that emphasise mid-level processing (re-entry and predictive processing; integrated information theories) or higher-level processing (higher-order theories; global workspace). By contrast, low-level theories are ruled out. The purpose of this Correspondence is to argue that low-level processing remains a viable, if overlooked, candidate for the site of visual experience.