Various theories for the neural basis of consciousness have been proposed, suggesting a diversity of neural signs and mechanisms. We ask to what extent this diversity is real, or whether many theories share the same basic ideas with a potential for convergence towards a more unified theory of the neural basis of consciousness. For that purpose, we review and compare the various neural signs, measures, and mechanisms proposed in the different theories. We demonstrate that different theories focus on neural signs and measures of distinct aspects of neural activity including stimulus-related, prestimulus, and resting state activity as well as on distinct features of consciousness. Therefore, the various mechanisms proposed in the different theories may, in part, complement each other. Together, we provide insight into the shared basis and convergences (and, in part, discrepancies) of the different theories of consciousness. We conclude that the different theories concern distinct aspects of both neural activity and consciousness which, as we suppose, may be integrated and nested within the brain’s overall temporo-spatial dynamics.

关于意识的神经基础的各种理论已经被提出，表明了神经标志和机制的多样性。我们问这种多样性在多大程度上是真实的，或者许多理论是否共享相同的基本思想，并且有可能朝着意识的神经基础的更统一理论收敛。为此，我们回顾并比较了不同理论中提出的各种神经信号，措施和机制。我们证明了不同的理论侧重于神经体征和神经活动各个方面的措施，包括与刺激相关的，前刺激和静止状态活动，以及意识的不同特征。因此，在不同理论中提出的各种机制可以部分互补。一起，我们提供了关于不同意识理论的共同基础和融合（以及部分差异）的见识。我们得出的结论是，不同的理论涉及神经活动和意识的不同方面，正如我们认为的那样，这些方面可能被整合并嵌套在大脑的整体时空动力学中。