A construct-first approach to consciousness science

Peter Fazekas; Axel Cleeremans; Morten Overgaard

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105480

A construct-first approach to consciousness science

Peter Fazekas^*, Axel Cleeremans, Morten Overgaard

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Review › Forskning › peer review

6 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

We propose a new approach to consciousness science that instead of comparing complex theoretical positions deconstructs existing theories, takes their central assumptions while disregarding their auxiliary hypotheses, and focuses its investigations on the main constructs that these central assumptions rely on (like global workspace, recurrent processing, metarepresentation). Studying how these main constructs are anchored in lower-level constructs characterizing underlying neural processing will not just offer an alternative to theory comparisons but will also take us one step closer to empirical resolutions. Moreover, exploring the compatibility and possible combinations of the lower-level constructs will allow for new theoretical syntheses. This construct-first approach will improve our ability to understand the commitments of existing theories and pave the way for moving beyond them.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	105480
Tidsskrift	Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Vol/bind	156
ISSN	0149-7634
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105480
Status	Udgivet - jan. 2024

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10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105480Licens: CC BY

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AU - Cleeremans, Axel

AU - Overgaard, Morten

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AB - We propose a new approach to consciousness science that instead of comparing complex theoretical positions deconstructs existing theories, takes their central assumptions while disregarding their auxiliary hypotheses, and focuses its investigations on the main constructs that these central assumptions rely on (like global workspace, recurrent processing, metarepresentation). Studying how these main constructs are anchored in lower-level constructs characterizing underlying neural processing will not just offer an alternative to theory comparisons but will also take us one step closer to empirical resolutions. Moreover, exploring the compatibility and possible combinations of the lower-level constructs will allow for new theoretical syntheses. This construct-first approach will improve our ability to understand the commitments of existing theories and pave the way for moving beyond them.

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KW - Conscious experience

KW - Theoretical constructs

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A construct-first approach to consciousness science

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