neural correlates of consciousness

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the minimal set of neural mechanisms sufficient for any specific conscious experience; the search for neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) is a central empirical project of consciousness science, associated particularly with Francis Crick and Christof Koch, who proposed that identifying the brain processes that correlate with conscious perception would provide a scientific foundation for understanding the hard problem of why physical processes give rise to subjective experience; NCCs have been sought using neuroimaging, lesion studies, and direct neural recording, with candidate areas including the prefrontal cortex, the claustrum, and posterior cortical hot zones, though debate continues about whether correlation is sufficient for causal explanation