The Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) suggests that consciousness arises when information becomes globally available throughout the brain, allowing for widespread access and broadcasting of specific contents.

Proposed by Bernard Baars and further developed by Stanislas Dehaene, GNWT focuses on the functional aspect of consciousness. It posits that the brain acts like a 'workspace' where a limited amount of information can be temporarily made globally accessible to a multitude of specialized unconscious processors (e.g., memory, attention, motor control). When information enters this global workspace, it becomes conscious. According to GNWT, unconscious processes are localized and specialized, operating in parallel. Consciousness, however, is characterized by a serial processing bottleneck where a single 'thought' or perception is broadcast across the brain, influencing various cognitive functions. This theory explains why we can only consciously focus on a few things at once and how conscious awareness allows for flexible, novel behaviors, unlike the rigid, automatic responses of unconscious processes. It offers a compelling framework for understanding the functional role of consciousness in cognition and behavior, distinguishing it from purely unconscious brain activity.