Neural correlates of perceptual consciousness from within: a narrative review of human intracranial research

A consortium of nine neuroscientists, including Francois Stockart and Liad Mudrik, has published a comprehensive review advocating for a methodological shift in the search for the Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC). The paper, "Neural correlates of perceptual consciousness from within," contends that decades of research using non-invasive tools like fMRI and EEG have hit a wall due to limited resolution and sensitivity. These limitations make it nearly impossible to distinguish the specific neural activity of conscious perception from the background noise of other cognitive processes, often leading to inconclusive null results.

The authors propose that intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) and single-neuron recordings in humans—typically available from epilepsy patients undergoing monitoring—provide a unique solution. These methods offer millisecond temporal precision and millimeter spatial accuracy, capturing data directly from deep cortical and subcortical structures. The review synthesizes studies using this approach to evaluate competing theories, such as whether consciousness relies on higher-order cognitive brain regions or localized sensory processing hubs.

Finally, the paper outlines the current limitations of intracranial research, including restricted brain coverage and the challenge of studying healthy brains. It points to future directions involving emerging technologies like high-density electrode arrays and closed-loop stimulation paradigms. The ultimate goal is to leverage this high-resolution data to build more accurate computational models of consciousness, which could inform next-generation AI architectures and clinical interventions for disorders of consciousness.