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Global workspace theory emerges unscathed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2008

Murray Shanahan
Affiliation:
Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
Bernard Baars
Affiliation:
The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, CA 92121. [email protected]://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/[email protected]://nsi.edu/users/baars

Abstract

Our aim in this reply is to defend Global Workspace theory (GWT) from the challenge of Block's article. We argue that Block's article relies on an outdated and imprecise concept of access, and perpetuates a common misunderstanding of GWT that conflates the global workspace with working memory. In the light of the relevant clarifications, Block's conclusion turns out to be unwarranted, and the basic tenets of GWT emerge unscathed.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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