The study of consciousness has long been one of the great unsolved mysteries in modern neuroscience. Renowned neuroscientists Antonio and Hanna Damasio from the University of Southern California have proposed a fascinating hypothesis: they locate the origins of consciousness in bodily feelings. They argue that emotions—not cognition or higher brain functions—form the foundation of consciousness.
This perspective could fundamentally alter our self-understanding as humans and provides a contrasting addition to established theories that have primarily anchored consciousness in cognition and perception.
Traditionally, consciousness has been viewed as a product of cognitive and sensory processing. This view, often summarized under the term cognitivism, considers consciousness as the result of complex processing of information and stimuli by the brain. Thus, consciousness is the ability to integrate sensory impressions from the external world into a coherent picture that appears to us as 'self.'
In this view, consciousness is an extension of the cognitive abilities of higher mammals, especially humans. Higher brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for complex decision-making and reflection, play a central role. The ability for self-perception, or the notion of a 'self' as a separate entity, is also seen as a byproduct of cognitive advancement.
Another prominent theory, the Global Workspace Theory (GWT), suggests that consciousness arises when information from various sensory and cognitive systems in the brain converges in a shared 'workspace.' This mechanism allows information from different brain areas to interact and generate conscious perception. Here, consciousness is the brain's ability to integrate various pieces of information into a coherent whole and present it as a unit.
In contrast to these cognitively oriented theories, the Damasios shift the origin of consciousness to the realm of sensation and feeling. They argue that not only the processing of external stimuli or the cognitive integration of information generates consciousness, but also the perception of internal bodily states.
Their hypothesis places 'homeostatic feelings' at the center: these feelings, which are deeply rooted in the body and inform us about our physical state—hunger, thirst, pain, cold, or well-being—are the basis of conscious experience. In this view, the crucial building blocks of consciousness lie in the sensations we perceive through our bodies, rather than in the cognitive processes we have often considered fundamental.
The Damasios also provide an evolutionary explanation for their theory: the development of consciousness did not grow with the capacity for complex thoughts but with the necessity to regulate basic bodily states and survive. Homeostatic feelings—perceiving hunger, pain, or temperature—thus not only provide a foundation for survival but also form the starting point for subjective experience. Consciousness, according to the Damasios, is not a cognitive achievement but an evolutionary tool that enables living beings to maximize their well-being and actively avoid risks.
Some researchers may fear that the Damasios' model could lead to neglecting cognitive processes in explaining consciousness. After all, human consciousness is not only about feeling internal states but also involves complex thinking about oneself and the world. The Damasios themselves argue that cognitive processes do indeed play an important role, but that these could not arise without the foundation of feelings. The ability to feel is the prerequisite from which cognitive reflection can later grow.
The Damasios' approach could also play a role in the therapy and treatment of mental disorders. If we consider human consciousness and self-understanding as deeply rooted in the body, therapeutic methods that focus on body awareness and sensation could gain new significance. Mindfulness-based therapies or body-oriented approaches could provide direct access to consciousness by teaching patients to perceive and interpret their internal bodily sensations. This could be helpful in treating anxiety or depression, as patients learn to better understand and regulate their emotions and needs by focusing on their bodies.
Thus, the Damasios' theory places humans as feeling, sensitive beings at the center and could help elevate therapy from a purely cognitive level to a more holistic one. In a time when self is often equated with cognitive performance, this perspective reminds us that consciousness is more than just a complex computational model. Being human begins in the deepest layers of bodily sensation—and healing could start right there.
In an increasingly cognitively oriented world, this return to feeling could not only enrich neuroscience but also deepen our understanding of ourselves as feeling, living beings.
Henrik Bischoff is a clinical and neurocognitive psychologist currently researching at the Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna. Previously, he was an Affiliated Researcher at the Laureate Brain Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma.