Consciousness as an Emergent Neural Process: A Neuroscientific Model Without Non-Physical Entities
Kuladip Deb
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 16, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19604978 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that consciousness is an emergent property of complex neural activity rather than a separate soul or non-physical substance, citing brain imaging, neurological disorders, anesthesia, split-brain studies, and neural stimulation as evidence that conscious experience depends on brain structure and function. Contends that no empirical data supports a soul or consciousness independent of neural processes, and proposes that subjective experience arises from distributed information processing in the brain. |
Abstract
This paper presents the leading neuroscientific model in which consciousness is understood as an emergent property of complex neural activity rather than a separate non-physical substance or soul. Evidence from brain imaging, neurological disorders, anesthesia, split-brain studies, and neural stimulation demonstrates that conscious experience directly depends on brain structure and function. No empirical data supports the existence of a soul or independent consciousness separate from neural processes. The findings suggest that subjective experience arises from distributed information processing within the brain.