The multiple generator hypothesis of consciousness
Neuroscience of Consciousness September 24, 2025 Asger Kirkeby-Hinrup, S. Fink, Morten S Overgaard
In the study of consciousness, multiple competing hypotheses about the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) are usually treated as mutually exclusive, with the expectation that only one will ultimately be correct. This paper proposes an alternative view: each hypothesis and its associated evidence may be simultaneously valid. The authors develop the multiple generator hypothesis (MGH), which distinguishes between principles—ways consciousness can be brought about—and generators—how these principles are implemented in physical systems. The MGH is explicated and illustrated with examples from consciousness studies, and its implications are shown to raise novel questions and considerations for the field.