Oscillatory correlates of visual consciousness

Stefano Gallotto, Alexander T Sack, Teresa Schuhmann, Tom A de Graaf*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Conscious experiences are linked to activity in our brain: the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). Empirical research on these NCCs covers a wide range of brain activity signals, measures, and methodologies. In this paper, we focus on spontaneous brain oscillations; rhythmic fluctuations of neuronal (population) activity which can be characterized by a range of parameters, such as frequency, amplitude (power), and phase. We provide an overview of oscillatory measures that appear to correlate with conscious perception. We also discuss how increasingly sophisticated techniques allow us to study the causal role of oscillatory activity in conscious perception (i.e., 'entrainment'). This review of oscillatory correlates of consciousness suggests that, for example, activity in the alpha-band (7-13 Hz) may index, or even causally support, conscious perception. But such results also showcase an increasingly acknowledged difficulty in NCC research; the challenge of separating neural activity necessary for conscious experience to arise (prerequisites) from neural activity underlying the conscious experience itself (substrates) or its results (consequences).

Original languageEnglish
Article number1147
Number of pages16
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume8
Issue numberJUL
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • Journal Article
  • Review
  • BRAIN ACTIVITY
  • VISUOSPATIAL ATTENTION
  • consciousness
  • correlates
  • SPATIAL ATTENTION
  • ALTERNATING-CURRENT STIMULATION
  • CORTICAL EXCITABILITY
  • vision
  • CORTEX EXCITABILITY
  • awareness
  • INTEROCULAR RIVALRY
  • EEG ALPHA
  • GAMMA-BAND ACTIVITY
  • oscillations
  • ALPHA-BAND

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