This Research Topic is a special awarded collection. To be eligible for a potential award supporting your submission, please ensure you submit your abstract here at least two weeks before submitting your manuscript.

Consciousness is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has intrigued scientists, philosophers, and thinkers for centuries. It encompasses awareness, perception, and the diverse phenomenal experiences that characterize human mental life. With advances in neuroscience and cognitive science, we are now better equipped to explore the neural correlates and cognitive processes underpinning consciousness. However, the debate continues as to how, and if, these physical processes translate into subjective experiences. Integrating philosophical perspectives with empirical research offers a more comprehensive understanding of consciousness, bridging the gap between objective observation and subjective experience.

This Research Topic aims to bridge the disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy to unravel the enigma of consciousness. By addressing questions about how neural processes give rise to conscious experience, we can delve deeper into the mechanisms underlying phenomenal awareness and the nature of subjective reality. Our goal is to achieve a multidimensional understanding of consciousness that incorporates empirical findings into theoretical frameworks. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we seek to advance our understanding of consciousness and address long-standing philosophical questions about the mind-body connection, the nature of self, and the boundaries of conscious experience.

Submissions can include original research articles, reviews, theoretical papers, and perspectives that contribute to a richer understanding of consciousness from both scientific and philosophical viewpoints. All contributions should aim to demonstrate explanatory power, either by shedding light on the nature of consciousness, by providing insight into the mechanisms underlying conscious processes, by offering a conclusive explanation of the conditions that must be fulfilled to form conscious states, or by providing clear criteria and conceptual guidelines for the assessment of theories of consciousness. We invite submissions that explore various dimensions of consciousness, including but not limited to:

• Neural correlates and brain networks associated with conscious experience

• Cognitive processes and mechanisms underlying consciousness

• Philosophical inquiries into the nature of consciousness and self-awareness

• Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating empirical research with philosophical analysis

• The significance of research into altered states of consciousness for revealing the principles behind conscious processes

Do not miss the chance to make your manuscript contribution and showcase your research alongside the research of other outstanding colleagues. Register your interest in the link below so our Topic Editors can make sure to extend deadlines for your submission if needed: Participate in this topic

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Understanding consciousness: neural, cognitive, and philosophical perspectives