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Searching in the wrong place: Might consciousness reside in the brainstem?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2022

Marshall Devor Open the ORCID record for Marshall Devor [Opens in a new window] ,
Mary Koukoui  and
Mark Baron
Marshall Devor
Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and the Center for Research on Pain, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. marshlu@mail.huji.ac.il; mary.koukoui@mail.huji.ac.il; mark.baron@mail.huji.ac.il
Mary Koukoui
Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and the Center for Research on Pain, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. marshlu@mail.huji.ac.il; mary.koukoui@mail.huji.ac.il; mark.baron@mail.huji.ac.il
Mark Baron
Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and the Center for Research on Pain, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. marshlu@mail.huji.ac.il; mary.koukoui@mail.huji.ac.il; mark.baron@mail.huji.ac.il
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Abstract

Doubtless, the conscious brain integrates masses of information. But declaring that consciousness simply “emerges” when enough has accumulated, doesn't really explain how first person experience is implemented by neurons. Moreover, empirical observations challenge integrated information theory's (IIT) reliance on thalamo–cortical interactions as the information integrator. More likely, the cortex streams processed information to a still-enigmatic consciousness generator, one perhaps located in the brainstem.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e46
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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