'A framework for consciousness'

In this paper Crick and Koch summarize their current approach to the problem of consciousness, offering a scheme for explaining the neural correlates of (visual) consciousness in terms of competing cellular assemblies.

Ralph M Siegel and Edward M Callaway discuss the paper in their article 'Francis Crick's Legacy for Neuroscience: Between the α [alpha] and the ω [omega]', PLoS Biology 2004 December; 2(12): e419):

'In 2001, Francis was diagnosed with colon cancer. He realized that the problem of the neural correlates of consciousness might outlast him. Francis was walking with a cane, still not waiting for anyone, nor allowing anyone to wait for him. He continued to find time for new faces in the field and continued to work on consciousness. While he had made many strides forward, he saw the race for him was winding down. He had had his hope for understanding the structure of consciousness. He had laid the groundwork. He decided to encapsulate his ideas in a "Framework" paper with Koch. For many of us it was clear that he was laying out where he would go, had he enough time.'

The paper was published as Crick, F, Koch, C, 'A framework for consciousness', Nature Neuroscience 2003 Feb;6(2):119-26.

2001-2003

4 files

A digitised copy is held by Wellcome Collection as part of Codebreakers: Makers of Modern Genetics.