Bernard Baars first presented the global workspace theory (GWT) (1988, 1997, 2002). Current research focuses on GWT's neural interpretations and computer simulations.

GWT resembles the concept of working memory, and it is proposed that it corresponds to a "momentarily active. 

It is possible to explain GWT using a "theatre metaphor." A "spotlight of selective attention" casts a bright spot on stage in the "theatre of consciousness." The bright spot shows the actors coming and going, speaking, or interacting with one another, as well as the contents of awareness. The audience is viewing the play in the dark (i.e., unconscious) and is not illuminated. The director (executive processes), stagehands, scriptwriters, scene designers, and others work in the shadows behind the scenes. Although they are invisible, they mould the apparent actions in the brilliant spot. 

Overview

GWT involves a brief recollection that lasts only a few seconds. Nevertheless, many unconscious cognitive brain activities, sometimes called receiving processes, are broadcast with GWT contents, theorised to correspond to what we are cognizant of. In addition, other subconscious processes running concurrently and with little interaction with one another may create coalitions that serve as input processes for the global workspace.

We may utilise the global workspace to exercise executive control to carry out voluntary acts since globally broadcast messages can elicit actions in receiving systems throughout the brain. Moreover, they seek to spread their messages to all other processes to attract more cohorts and, as a result, boost their chances of success. Therefore, it is necessary to temporarily store incoming stimuli to compete for attention and conscious access. The sensory memory that stores stimuli for "a few hundred milliseconds" was anticipated by Kouider and Dehaene. Recent studies provide early support for such a buffer store and show a gradual decline, with helpful information extraction drastically degraded after 300 ms and most data lost entirely after 700 ms.

The global workspace, according to Baars (1997), "is closely related to conscious experience." Moreover, according to several scientists, including Michael S. Gazzaniga, conscious events may include additional criteria.

Conclusion

However, GWT can accurately simulate several aspects of consciousness, including its role in managing novel situations, its capacity limitations, its sequential nature, and its potential to activate various unconscious brain functions. Additionally, GWT is highly suited for computational modelling. One such computational application of GWT is Stan Franklin's IDA model. 

Furthermore, the "behind the scenes" contextual mechanisms described by GWT include the dorsal cortical stream of the visual system, which shapes conscious contents without ever being aware. Specific neurological hypotheses are produced by this architectural method. If the contents of two sensory events in distinct modalities are incompatible, they may compete for awareness. For instance, if a movie's audio and video tracks need to be in sync, the two streams compete rather than fuse. The general brain physiology of consciousness roughly matches the 100 ms time domain.