Tests for consciousness in humans and beyond
Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
- Bayne, Tim (Author)
- Seth, Anil K. (Author)
- Massimini, Marcello (Author)
- Shepherd, Joshua (Author)
- Cleeremans, Axel (Author)
- Fleming, Stephen M. (Author)
- Malach, Rafael (Author)
- Mattingley, Jason B. (Author)
- Menon, David K. (Author)
- Owen, Adrian M. (Author)
- Peters, Megan A. K. (Author)
- Razi, Adeel (Author)
- Mudrik, Liad (Author)
Title
Tests for consciousness in humans and beyond
Abstract
Which systems/organisms are conscious? New tests for consciousness (‘C-tests’) are urgently needed. There is persisting uncertainty about when consciousness arises in human development, when it is lost due to neurological disorders and brain injury, and how it is distributed in nonhuman species. This need is amplified by recent and rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI), neural organoids, and xenobot technology. Although a number of C-tests have been proposed in recent years, most are of limited use, and currently we have no C-tests for many of the populations for which they are most critical. Here, we identify challenges facing any attempt to develop C-tests, propose a multidimensional classification of such tests, and identify strategies that might be used to validate them.
Publication
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Volume
28
Issue
5
Pages
454-466
Date
2024-05-01
Journal Abbr
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Language
English
ISSN
1364-6613, 1879-307X
Accessed
3/18/25, 7:37 AM
Library Catalog
Extra
Publisher: Elsevier
PMID: 38485576
Link
Citation
Bayne, T., Seth, A. K., Massimini, M., Shepherd, J., Cleeremans, A., Fleming, S. M., Malach, R., Mattingley, J. B., Menon, D. K., Owen, A. M., Peters, M. A. K., Razi, A., & Mudrik, L. (2024). Tests for consciousness in humans and beyond. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(5), 454–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2024.01.010
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