Philosophy Consciousness Studies Questions
The global workspace theory of consciousness proposes that consciousness arises from the dynamic interaction between specialized brain modules and a central "global workspace" that integrates and broadcasts information to the entire brain. According to this theory, different brain regions process specific information and compete for access to the global workspace. When a particular piece of information reaches a threshold of activation, it gains access to the global workspace and becomes conscious, available for further processing and influencing behavior. The global workspace acts as a stage where information is shared and made available to multiple cognitive processes, allowing for flexible and coordinated behavior. This theory suggests that consciousness is not confined to a single brain region but emerges from the collective activity of distributed neural networks.