Part of
The Constitution of Phenomenal Consciousness: Toward a science and theoryEdited by Steven M. Miller
[Advances in Consciousness Research 92] 2015
► pp. 260–270
Edited by Steven M. Miller
[Advances in Consciousness Research 92] 2015
► pp. 260–270
The future of consciousness science
From empirical correlations to theoretical explanation
In this paper I overview my previous work concerning a multilevel framework for consciousness science. Constitutive, etiological and contextual dimensions of explanation are described. The multilevel framework is then applied to current issues within consciousness science including understanding the convergence of top-down and bottom-up constraints, the level of measurement problem and sorting out t he correlates, causes and constituents of consciousness. Drawing on the dreaming brain as a model system, I also briefly describe my group’s research using electrophysiology and transcranial magnetic stimulation. I conclude that consciousness science will gradually adopt a unified multilevel model with a systematic description of phenomenology, the phenomenal level in the brain and their relation with the causal networks of the physical world.
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