Consciousness38 articles archived since 1845

Constant Shifts between Mental States Mark a Signature of Consciousness

Both of two essential brain networks that switch roles—one is on when the other is off—shut down in unresponsive individuals

Does Consciousness Pervade the Universe?

Philosopher Philip Goff answers questions about “panpsychism”

The Science of Consciousness

How do neurons create feelings of sadness? Or the sense of a unique self? On the other hand, could conscious thought be an illusion? The nature of conscious experience is one of the most essential, enduring mysteries, and in this eBook we explore the diverse and sometimes contentious approaches to defining consciousness, research into its physical footprints, advances in measuring conscious awareness and emerging technologies bringing artificial intelligence systems closer to adapting and learning like a human brain...

The Neuroscience of Reality

Reality is constructed by the brain, and no two brains are exactly alike

There Is No Such Thing as Conscious Thought

Philosopher Peter Carruthers insists that conscious thought, judgment and volition are illusions. They arise from processes of which we are forever unaware

The Brain’s Autopilot Mechanism Steers Consciousness

Freud’s notion of a dark, libidinous unconscious is obsolete. A new theory holds that the brain produces a continuous stream of unconscious predictions

Computers Determine States of Consciousness

A machine learning algorithm uses EEG traces to find a patient’s odds of waking

New Atlas Used to ID Brain Parts for Plans and Actions

A detailed picture of cell types in some areas of the mouse cortex is put to the test

Are Humans the Only Conscious Animal?

Decoding the puzzle of human consciousness

How Can We Tell If a Comatose Patient Is Conscious?

Neurologist Steven Laureys looks for signs of consciousness in unresponsive patients

How to Make a Consciousness Meter

Zapping the brain with magnetic pulses while measuring its electrical activity is proving to be a reliable way to detect consciousness

Can Hearing Be Restored by Making the Brain More Childlike?

In mouse experiments, scientists bring back the “critical period” of early in life, in which the ability to process sounds emerges

Lucid Dream Analysis Could Tap the Creative Unconscious

Becoming aware of your sleeping self could relieve anxiety or tap the creative unconscious

Brain Activity for Attention and Memory Tasks Changes with the Seasons

New research shows brain function associated with attention peaks during the summer and dips in winter

Searching for Signs of Consciousness

Interactive: Rewiring the Brain

What are the physical determinants of thought and consciousness? An interactive feature on the luminary Carla Shatz and the new neuroscience explores some answers.

The Secrets of Consciousness

Consciousness is an enigmatic beast. It’s more than mere awareness – it’s how we experience the world.

Dream States: A Peek into Consciousness

Although we rarely remember our nighttime reveries, they may hold the key to consciousness