Final answer:
Consciousness is made possible by Global workspace integration according to the neuronal workspace hypothesis, which describes how various neural networks within the brain integrate to form a workspace for conscious thought and awareness.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the neuronal workspace hypothesis, consciousness is made possible by Global workspace integration. This hypothesis posits that consciousness arises from the integration and cooperation of various neural networks within the brain. The activity of these networks is thought to create a 'workspace' where information can be broadcasted to different areas, allowing for conscious thought and awareness. This coordination and integration enable disparate parts of the brain to communicate and function together holistically, giving rise to the unified experience of consciousness.
The workspace involves neural circuits that are distributed across different cortical regions, which are capable of interacting dynamically to integrate information. This workspace is accessible by a host of specialized processors and can be influenced by attention, which acts to amplify certain neural activities within the global workspace.
Selective attention, although playing a role in amplifying the processing of certain stimuli within this workspace, is not the foundational mechanism that makes consciousness possible in the framework of this hypothesis. Similarly, localized neural processing is a part of the bigger picture but doesn't by itself account for the emergence of consciousness. Inhibitory mechanisms, such as GABAergic synapses, play an important role in modulating the activity within the networks but again are not the sole enabler of consciousness according to this hypothesis.