The Role of Reporting in Consciousness

The Brain's Involvement in Communication

When we communicate, the frontal areas of our brain are activated. But is this due to consciousness itself or just the act of reporting on it?

• One study found a clever way to determine this, by using physiological data instead of self-reporting
• When participants didn't have to report, the frontal activity lessened

It seems that the structures associated with introspection only report on consciousness, rather than underpinning it.