Cited by 1,164Philosophy and Theoretical ScienceNeural dynamics and brain functionVisual perception and processing mechanisms

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 254 of the 260 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 120 of the 228 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis

Open access

Abstract

We review the central tenets and neuroanatomical basis of the global neuronal workspace (GNW) hypothesis, which attempts to account for the main scientific observations regarding the elementary mechanisms of conscious processing in the human brain. The GNW proposes that, in the conscious state, a non-linear network ignition associated with recurrent processing amplifies and sustains a neural representation, allowing the corresponding information to be globally accessed by local processors. We examine the GNW hypothesis in light of recent data that contrast brain activity evoked by either conscious or nonconscious contents, as well as during conscious or non-conscious states, particularly general anesthesia. We also discuss the relationship between the intertwined concepts of conscious processing, attention, and working memory.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review presents the global neuronal workspace hypothesis, arguing that conscious access arises when information triggers non-linear ignition and recurrent broadcasting across distributed cortical networks. It surveys supporting evidence from simulations, electrophysiology, imaging, anesthesia, disorders of consciousness, sleep, and development, while noting unresolved debates and comparisons with other theories.

Key findings

  • The GNW proposes that conscious access depends on sudden ignition of workspace neurons, with recurrent loops amplifying and sustaining representations for global access; prefrontal and parietal hubs are important but not the exclusive site of conscious access.
  • Empirical work reports a late divergence around 200–300 ms after stimulus onset between consciously perceived and unperceived trials, often linked to the P300/late-positive component, while early sensory processing can persist without awareness. Studies across visual, auditory, and tactile modalities, plus no-report monkey prefrontal recordings, support ignition; weak stimuli may fail at V1-to-V4 or V4-to-prefrontal stages.
  • Anesthesia, disorders of consciousness, and sleep are associated with disrupted long-range frontoparietal connectivity, reduced dynamic repertoire, and loss of late ignition/P3, while short-latency processing can remain. Thalamic or prefrontal stimulation may restore aspects of consciousness in some cases.
  • Attention and working memory overlap with GNW functions; conscious working memory is proposed to involve globally distributed persistent firing, whereas activity-silent or local memories remain unconscious until reinstated. Comparisons with IIT, RPT, and HOT note shared and divergent claims.

Methods

  • Narrative review of the GNW’s central tenets, neuroanatomical basis, simulations, and empirical evidence; no new primary data are reported.
  • Synthesizes computational models (Stroop, masking/inattention, macaque connectome, laminar connectivity) and human/nonhuman studies using EEG/MEG/fMRI, intracranial recordings, anesthesia, lesions, sleep, and development.
  • Main analysis is conceptual integration and comparison with other theories, including discussion of causal interventions and future directions.

Limitations

  • Stated: unresolved controversy over whether the P300/late positive or earlier N2/VAN indexes awareness versus post-perceptual processes; no-report paradigms have not resolved this.
  • Stated: difficulty experimentally adjudicating among GNW, IIT, RPT, and HOT because of shared predictions and coarse tools; many findings are correlational, causal evidence is limited, and lesion heterogeneity plus possible covert consciousness complicate inferences from disorders of consciousness.
  • Evident: as a review, it is selective and narrative rather than systematic, and some claims about development, self-consciousness, and working memory are presented as hypotheses or untested.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.026

Cites

254 of 254 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

120 of 228 cited sources checked · 59 supported · 3 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 95 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 91
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 9
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 37
120 of 120
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The second stage of the simulation is mediated by slower NMDA-mediated feedback connections.

    “In a second stage, assumed to be mediated by the slower NMDA-mediated feedback connections”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Severe encephalitis caused by antibodies against NMDA receptors produces psychotic symptoms and then complete loss of consciousness.

    “In fact, a severe form of encephalitis due to antibodies against NMDA receptors leads to psychotic symptoms followed by a complete loss of consciousness, suggesting a causal link between NMDA-mediated top-down connectivity and conscious perception.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Some degree of functional architecture among GNW nodes is preserved during anesthesia.

    “Even assuming some degree of preserved functional architecture among nodes of the GNW during anesthesia (as in Figure 5)”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Social consciousness engages cortical areas including the superior temporal sulcus, temporoparietal junction, and medial prefrontal cortex, mostly in the right hemisphere.

    “Social consciousness is assumed to engage cortical areas, including the superior temporal sulcus, the temporoparietal junction, and the medial prefrontal cortex, mostly in the right hemisphere (Graziano and Kastner, 2011).”
4 of 4

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Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Mashour, G. A., Roelfsema, P., Changeux, J.-P., & Dehaene, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NL)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Université Paris-Sud (FR)
Corresponding author
  • Changeux, Jean-Pierre
  • Dehaene, Stanislas
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-03
Volume
105
Issue
5
Pages
776-798
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3009555114
Cited by
1,164
References
260
Citations by year
2026: 269 · 2025: 197 · 2024: 209 · 2023: 163 · 2022: 159 · 2021: 107 · 2020: 58
FWCI
17.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KNAW research portal (Royal Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW)) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
consciousness, conscious processing, recurrent processing, neural representations, general anesthesia, attention, working memory, neural correlates of consciousness
MeSH terms
Anesthesia, General, Attention, Brain, Cognition, Consciousness, Humans, Memory, Short-Term, Neurons, Psychological Theory

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