How do we approach the brain basis of consciousness?

In almost twenty years of cognitive research on consciousness, the indispensable evidentiary move has been to find closely contrasting cases of conscious vs. unconscious mental representations (e.g. Baars, 1988, 1996). The same strategy can be applied to the brain basis of consciousness. We can search for closely matched conscious vs. unconscious brain processes. Much evidence along these lines is already available, though it has often not been talked about in that way, so we have to search for the brain contrasts intelligently. A set of research paradigms that provide contrastive evidence will be explored.

• Baars, B.J. (1988) A cognitive theory of consciousness. NY: Cambridge University Press.
• Baars, B.J. (1996) In the theater of consciousness: The workspace of the mind. NY: Oxford University Press.