The Global Workspace Needs Metacognition

Nicholas Shea; Chris D Frith

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.007

The Global Workspace Needs Metacognition

Trends Cogn Sci. 2019 Jul;23(7):560-571. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.007. Epub 2019 May 29.

Authors

Nicholas Shea¹, Chris D Frith²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Philosophy, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU, UK; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.
² Institute of Philosophy, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Human NeuroImaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31153773
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.007

Abstract

The two leading cognitive accounts of consciousness currently available concern global workspace (a form of working memory) and metacognition. There is relatively little interaction between these two approaches and it has even been suggested that the two accounts are rival and separable alternatives. Here, we argue that the successful function of a global workspace critically requires that the broadcast representations include a metacognitive component.

Keywords: confidence; consciousness; global availability; metarepresentation; report; working memory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Cognition*
Consciousness*
Humans
Memory, Short-Term
Metacognition*
Models, Neurological