The current discussion on the neural correlates of the contents of consciousness (NCCc) focuses mainly on the post-stimulus period of task-related activity. This neglects the substantial impact of the spontaneous or ongoing activity of the brain as manifest in pre-stimulus activity. Does the interaction of pre- and post-stimulus activity shape the contents of consciousness? Addressing this gap in our knowledge, we review and converge two recent lines of findings, that is, pre-stimulus alpha power and pre- and post-stimulus alpha trial-to-trial variability (TTV). The data show that pre-stimulus alpha power modulates post-stimulus activity including specifically the subjective features of conscious contents like confidence and vividness. At the same time, alpha pre-stimulus variability shapes post-stimulus TTV reduction including the associated contents of consciousness. We propose that non-additive rather than merely additive interaction of the internal pre-stimulus activity with the external stimulus in the alpha band is key for contents to become conscious. This is mediated by mechanisms on different levels including neurophysiological, neurocomputational, neurodynamic, neuropsychological and neurophenomenal levels. Overall, considering the interplay of pre-stimulus intrinsic and post-stimulus extrinsic activity across wider timescales, not just evoked responses in the post-stimulus period, is critical for identifying neural correlates of consciousness. This is well in line with both processing and especially the Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC).

中文翻译：

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超越任务反应——刺激前活动调节意识内容

当前关于意识内容的神经相关性（NCCc）的讨论主要集中在任务相关活动的刺激后时期。这忽略了刺激前活动中所体现的大脑自发或持续活动的实质性影响。刺激前和刺激后活动的相互作用是否塑造了意识的内容？为了解决我们知识上的这一差距，我们回顾并总结了最近的两条研究结果，即刺激前 alpha 功率和刺激前后 alpha 试验间变异性 (TTV)。数据显示，刺激前的阿尔法功率调节刺激后的活动，特别包括意识内容的主观特征，如信心和生动性。同时，刺激前的 alpha 变异性会影响刺激后 TTV 的减少，包括相关的意识内容。我们认为，内部预刺激活动与阿尔法带中的外部刺激的非加性相互作用，而不仅仅是加性相互作用，是内容变得有意识的关键。这是由不同水平的机制介导的，包括神经生理学、神经计算、神经动力学、神经心理学和神经现象水平。总体而言，考虑刺激前内在活动和刺激后外在活动在更广泛的时间尺度上的相互作用，而不仅仅是刺激后时期的诱发反应，对于识别意识的神经相关性至关重要。这非常符合处理过程，尤其是意识的时空理论（TTC）。