Neural correlates of visual consciousness : A systematic review of posterior versus prefrontal cortical involvement

Sammanfattning

The neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) are commonly investigated by comparing neural activity during perceived and non-perceived stimuli. In visual consciousness research, a central debate concerns whether conscious visual content is primarily associated with posterior cortical regions or requires prefrontal/fronto-parietal involvement. This systematic review synthesized empirical human neuroscience studies addressing the cortical localization of conscious visual perception. Literature was identified through MEDLINE Ovid and screened in Rayyan. After duplicate removal, 299 records were screened, 44 reports sought for retrieval, 36 full texts were assessed, and 20 studies were included. Included studies used visual paradigms such as binocular rivalry, visual masking, no-report designs, and multi-paradigm intracranial recordings. Findings were categorized as posterior, prefrontal/fronto-parietal, or mixed according to their localization relevance. Across the included studies, the clearest and most consistent evidence linked conscious visual content to posterior regions, especially occipital, occipito-temporal, ventral visual, and lateral occipital areas. Evidence for prefrontal and fronto-parietal involvement was present but less consistent and often appeared in conditions involving executive functions. Overall, the review supports a posterior-dominant interpretation of conscious visual content, while rejecting a strictly posterior-only account. Frontal and parietal regions likely contribute in a more variable and context-dependent way, especially when visual experience becomes available for report, control, or cognitive access.