The Neural Mechanisms of Consciousness and Volition

Among the deepest mysteries in neuroscience are the questions of how brain activity results in conscious awareness and to what extent our actions are truly free. Students may be surprised to learn how much modern neuroscience has to say on these topics. We will rigorously define these phenomena and review existing theories. We will describe recent results about the function of major brain divisions like the neocortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia as well as relevant circuits in the hypothalamus and tegmentum. This knowledge will be synthesized to evaluate major theories of consciousness and approaches to understanding free will.