Full Idea
Our hypothesis is that the activity of a group of neurons can contribute directly to conscious experience if it is part of a functional cluster, characterized by strong interactions among a set of neuronal groups over a period of hundreds of milliseconds.
Gist of Idea
Consciousness arises from high speed interactions between clusters of neurons
Source
G Edelman / G Tononi (Consciousness: matter becomes imagination [2000], Ch.12)
Book Reference
Edelman,G/Tononi,G: 'Consciousness: how matter becomes imagination' [Penguin 2000], p.139
A Reaction
This is their 'dynamic core' hypothesis. It doesn't get at the Hard Questions about consciousness, but this is a Nobel prize winner hot on the trail of the location of the action. It gives support to functionalism, because the neurons vary.