Towards a neurobiological theory of consciousness

Visual awareness ;ir a favorabk fmm of consciousness to stdy neurobiologically. We propose that it takes two forms: a very fat form, &z&i to iconic naemoryr, that may be dl~cu~t to study; and a somewhat slower one involv&g visual attention and short-term memory. In the slower form an at~tiona~ mechanism tra~~t~ binds together all those neurons whose activily relates to the relevantfeatures of a sing& visual o&ect. We suggest this is done by generating coherent semispchronow oscillations, probabb in the 4070 Hz range. These oscillations then activate a transient short-term ~workin~ ~~~. We outfit several lines ofexp~‘~~~ work that might advance the understanding of the neural mechanisms involved. The neural basis of very short-term memory especia& needs more exjw%nental study.