Towards a neuroethological approach to consciousness

Understanding consciousness remains a significant challenge in science. While much progresshas been made in explaining the origins of the universe and the mechanisms underlying life,the question of how subjective experience arises from physical systems remains unresolved.What distinguishes conscious beings from unconscious systems, such as organoids, artificialintelligence, or other non-sentient entities?Research on consciousness often focuses on identifying brain activity associated with consciousand non-conscious states, primarily in neurotypical adults. However, this approach is limited inscope when applied to entities with developmental or evolutionary trajectories different fromour own. How do we investigate consciousness in infants, whose brains are still maturing, or innon-human animals, shaped by diverse ecological and evolutionary pressures?This review advocates for a neuroethological perspective, drawing on Tinbergen’s frameworkfor studying behavior. By examining the mechanisms, development, adaptive value, andevolutionary origins of consciousness, we can move beyond a human-centric focus to exploreits diversity across life forms. Consciousness may not be a uniquely human phenomenon butrather a continuum shaped by evolutionary pressures. By adopting this broader approach, wemay better understand consciousness in its various forms and contexts, with significantscientific, ethical, and societal implications.