Abstract
How consciousness is generated by the nervous system remains one of the greatest mysteries in science. Investigators from diverse fields have begun to unravel this puzzle by contrasting conscious and unconscious processes. In this way, it has been revealed that the two kinds of processes differ in terms of the underlying neural events and associated cognitive mechanisms. We propose that, for several reasons, the olfactory system provides a unique portal through which to examine this contrast. For this purpose, the olfactory system is beneficial in terms of its (a) neuroanatomical aspects, (b) phenomenological and cognitive/mechanistic properties, and (c) neurodynamic (e.g., brain oscillations) properties. In this review, we discuss how each of these properties and aspects of the olfactory system can illuminate the contrast between conscious and unconscious processing in the brain. We conclude by delineating the most fruitful avenues of research and by entertaining hypotheses that, in order for an olfactory content to be conscious, that content must participate in a network that is large-scale, both in terms of the neural systems involved and the scope of information integration.
Highlights
How consciousness is generated by the nervous system remains one of the greatest mysteries in science (Crick and Koch, 2003; Roach, 2005): “No one has produced any plausible explanation as to how the experience of [anything]. . . could arise from the actions of the brain” (Crick and Koch, 2003, p. 119)
It has been revealed that the two kinds of processes differ in terms of the underlying neural events and associated cognitive mechanisms. (For discussion of the limitations of contrastive approaches, see Aru et al, 2012.) It has been proposed that, for several reasons, the olfactory system provides a unique portal through which to examine this contrast (Morsella et al, 2010; Keller, 2011)
The olfactory system is beneficial in terms of its (a) neuroanatomical aspects, (b) phenomenological and cognitive/mechanistic properties, and (c) neurodynamic properties
Summary
How consciousness is generated by the nervous system remains one of the greatest mysteries in science (Crick and Koch, 2003; Roach, 2005): “No one has produced any plausible explanation as to how the experience of [anything]. . . could arise from the actions of the brain” (Crick and Koch, 2003, p. 119). Classic research on the olfactory bulb, for example, illuminates the occurrence of organized, high frequency activity (gamma in the rat, ranging from 40 to 100 Hz; Adrian, 1942, 1950a,b; Kay and Beshel, 2010) during the perception of odorants.
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