1 Psychology and human development1.2 Awareness, sleep and consciousness
1.2.1 Neural correlates of consciousness
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Written by Resident Doctor Committee · Published
New in the 2027 syllabus
The College added this topic for exams from January 2027.
What the term means
Neural correlates of consciousness are the brain events linked to a particular conscious experience, such as seeing a face. They are separate from the conditions needed to be awake at all, and from the actions a person uses to report the experience.
How it is studied
Researchers often compare stimuli a person sees with stimuli they do not consciously see. This helps isolate awareness. However, attention, task difficulty and reporting can also change brain activity, so not every difference reflects awareness itself.
Global workspace theory
Global workspace theory says information becomes conscious when it is broadcast to many specialised systems, including memory, language and action planning.
The global neuronal workspace is the brain version of this idea. Widely connected cortical networks carry the broadcast through recurrent activity, where signals pass back and forth between areas.
Ignition is the shift from local processing to sustained, widespread availability. It happens when a representation gains conscious access.
Unconscious processing can still influence behaviour without reaching this widespread access.
Limitation
Brain activity linked to reporting or decision-making may be mistaken for the experience itself. The theory is a model, not a settled diagnostic test.