BBC Learning English - Learning English from the News / Human consciousness: Where is it in the brain?
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The story
Consciousness is everything a person experiences – someone's awareness of their thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories. But where does this happen in the brain?
Scientists haven't yet agreed on an explanation, but recently, two leading theories were put to the test in a large, research project.
The two theories that were put against each other were very different. For example, for one of them, the front part of the brain is not considered necessary for consciousness. Whereas the other theory argues that consciousness comes from what they call 'global broadcasting' across the brain, which does include the front regions.
Both theories made some accurate predictions about what was happening in the brain, but some of the predictions were wrong. 'Both theories are incomplete,' said Dr. Ferrante, one of the neuroscientists working on the project.
News headlines
Two Theories Face Off to Explain the Origins of Consciousness
Scientific American
Two Theories of Consciousness Faced Off. The Ref Took a Beating.
The New York Times
Landmark study puts leading theories of consciousness to the test— neither comes out unscathed
University of Birmingham
Key words and phrases
face off
meet to argue or compete
Two colleagues of mine are facing off in a battle for the promotion.
take a beating
suffer some damage
My presentation at work last week went really badly. My confidence really took a beating.
unscathed
undamaged
The government came out unscathed after the corruption scandal.
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