Neural correlates of perceptual consciousness from within: a narrative review of human intracranial research
Abstract
Despite many years of research, the quest to identify neural correlates of perceptual consciousness (NCC) remains unresolved. One major obstacle lies in methodological limitations: most studies rely on non-invasive neural measures with limited spatial or temporal resolution making it difficult to disentangle proper NCCs from concurrent cognitive processes. Additionally, the relatively low sensitivity of non-invasive neural measures limits the interpretation of null findings in studies targeting proper NCCs. In this review, we discuss how human intracranial recordings can advance the search for NCCs, by offering high spatiotemporal resolution, improved signal sensitivity, and broad cortical and subcortical coverage. We review studies that have examined NCCs at the level of single neurons and populations of neurons, and evaluate their implications on the debates between cognitive and sensory theories of consciousness. Finally, we highlight the limits of current intracranial human recordings and propose future directions based on emerging technologies and novel experimental paradigms.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{stockart2026neural,
title = {{Neural correlates of perceptual consciousness from within: a narrative review of human intracranial research}},
author = {Francois Stockart and Alexis Robin and Hal Blumenfeld and Milan Brazdil and Philippe Kahane and Liad Mudrik and Jasmine Thum and Michael Pereira and Nathan Faivre},
journal = {eLife},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.7554/elife.109604.3},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05785919v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neural correlates of perceptual consciousness from within: a narrative review of human intracranial research
AU - Francois Stockart
AU - Alexis Robin
AU - Hal Blumenfeld
AU - Milan Brazdil
AU - Philippe Kahane
AU - Liad Mudrik
AU - Jasmine Thum
AU - Michael Pereira
AU - Nathan Faivre
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/30
JO - eLife
DO - 10.7554/elife.109604.3
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05785919v1
AB - Despite many years of research, the quest to identify neural correlates of perceptual consciousness (NCC) remains unresolved. One major obstacle lies in methodological limitations: most studies rely on non-invasive neural measures with limited spatial or temporal resolution making it difficult to disentangle proper NCCs from concurrent cognitive processes. Additionally, the relatively low sensitivity of non-invasive neural measures limits the interpretation of null findings in studies targeting proper NCCs. In this review, we discuss how human intracranial recordings can advance the search for NCCs, by offering high spatiotemporal resolution, improved signal sensitivity, and broad cortical and subcortical coverage. We review studies that have examined NCCs at the level of single neurons and populations of neurons, and evaluate their implications on the debates between cognitive and sensory theories of consciousness. Finally, we highlight the limits of current intracranial human recordings and propose future directions based on emerging technologies and novel experimental paradigms.
SN - 2050-084X
ER -