Table 3.

NCC defined according to metaphysical sufficiency.

Metaphysically sufficient NCC
Neural state N1 is metaphysically sufficient for conscious state C1 if, and only if, given N1 then C1 is metaphysically necessary and ¬C1 is metaphysically impossible due to the natures of N1 and C1.
Reflects standard use	Reasonable and coherent	Theoretically neutral
Consistent with standard usage since researchers try to identify what characteristics of neurons are sufficient for consciousness, which might pertain to their whole nature or something specific about their nature such as their morphological structure, molecular compositions, biophysical properties, or function.	Lacks external coherence as it is inconsistent with the metaphysical possibility of zombies.	Lacks metaphysical neutrality since it rules out metaphysical views of consciousness that entail the metaphysical possibility of zombies. Lacks empirical neutrality, since it rules out prior to empirical investigation the possibility of a neural state correlating with two different conscious states.