Decoding Nonhuman Minds: Innovative Approaches to Animal Consciousness

The exploration of animal consciousness bridges several dynamic research disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, ethology, philosophy, and ecology. Historically, questions about the architecture of conscious experience have primarily centered on humans, but recent advancements are expanding our understanding into the non-human realm. With developments in neuroimaging, behavioral metrics, computational modeling, and cross-species comparative psychology, researchers are uniquely positioned to redefine consciousness across the spectrum of life. Despite progress, many fundamental questions remain over the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying consciousness in animals, as well as the ethical implications for attributing consciousness to them.

This Research Topic aims to compile pioneering works that deepen our comprehension of consciousness beyond the human experience. Researchers are invited to present novel theoretical frameworks and empirical studies testing hypotheses related to animal cognition and awareness. Specific goals include elucidating neural correlates of consciousness in various species, exploring mechanisms of self-awareness and metacognition in non-humans, and investigating the evolutionary paths of consciousness-related neural systems. The goal is to address and potentially resolve ongoing debates about conscious experiences in animals and to expand the ethical frameworks that guide this research area.

In order to gain more insights into the multidimensional nature of animal consciousness, this Research Topic seeks contributions addressing a broad scope of themes. These include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical frameworks for animal consciousness and cognition
• Advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiology in animal models
• Behavioral and computational techniques for assessing conscious processing
• Studies of self-awareness and metacognition in non-human species
• The dynamics of conscious and unconscious processes in animals
• Comparative analyses across species regarding consciousness-related neural systems
• Contextual and social influences on animal consciousness
• Ethical and philosophical issues in interpreting consciousness in animals