Consciousness in humans and non-human animals: Recent advances and future directions.

Frontiers in Psychology

Steven eLaureys²  Naotsugu eTsuchiya³  Anil K Seth⁵  Melanie eWilke⁶  Paul eIngmundson⁷  David eEdelman^1,10  Bernard eBaars^1,11  Melanie eBoly^1,12 

[1] Center for Sleep and Consciousness, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin;Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre and Neurology Department, University of Liege and CHU Sart Tilman hospital;Decoding and Controlling Brain Information, Japan Science and Technology Agency;Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Medical School Goettingen;Department of Informatics, University of Sussex;German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research;Mind Science Foundation;Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex;School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University;Science and Mathematics, Bennington College;The Neurosciences Institute;University of Wisconsin;

关键词: Biotechnology;    Consciousness;    Neuroimaging;    theoretical neuroscience;    Animals;    human cognition;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00625

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This joint article reflects the authors’ personal views regarding noteworthy advances in the neuroscience of consciousness in the last ten years, and suggests what we feel may be promising future directions. It is based on a small conference at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, USA, in July of 2012, organized by the Mind Science Foundation of San Antonio, Texas. Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of subjectivity in humans and other animals, including empirical, applied, technical and conceptual insights. These include the evidence for the importance of fronto-parietalconnectivity and of feedback processes, both of which enable information to travel across distant cortical areas effectively, as well as numerous dissociations between consciousness and cognitive functions, such as attention, in humans. In addition, we describe the development of mental imagery paradigms, which made it possible to identify covert awareness in non-responsive subjects. Non-human animal consciousness research has also witnessed substantial advances on the specific role of cortical areas and higher order thalamus for consciousness, thanks to important technological advances. In addition, much progress has been made in the understanding of non-vertebrate cognition relevant to possible conscious states. Finally, major advances have been made in theories of consciousness, and also in their comparison with the available evidence.Along with reviewing these findings, each author suggests future avenues for research in their field of investigation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown