Representations of conscious perception in the non human primate prefrontal cortex

The non-human primate (NHP) brain, particularly that of the macaque monkey, provides a powerful model for investigating the neural basis of conscious perception due to its close homology with the human cortex. Research using paradigms such as binocular rivalry and binocular flash suppression has revealed that neuronal populations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) explicitly encode consciously perceived visual information—including direction of motion, faces, and complex patterns—even in the absence of behavioral reports. Using no-report and rapid serial visual presentation paradigms, these studies demonstrate that prefrontal representations persist when post-perceptual processing and motor reports are absent or minimized, suggesting that PFC activity reflects genuine correlates of conscious experience. Moreover, the PFC encodes both concrete sensory details and abstract, hierarchical information about visual sequences, such as global regularities and prediction errors, indicating an integrative representational architecture. These findings support theoretical models, including the Global Neuronal Workspace and Higher-Order Thought theories, which propose an active role of the PFC in broadcasting or representing conscious contents, while challenging accounts that view it as merely post-perceptual or epiphenomenal. Overall, convergent electrophysiological evidence highlights the PFC as a central node in the cortical network supporting subjective awareness, capable of representing both the content and structure of conscious experience.