"Consciousness is a puzzling, state-dependent property of certain
types of complex, biological, adaptive, and highly interconnected
systems. A science of consciousness must strive to explain the exact
relationship between phenomenal, mental states and brain states. This
is the heart of the classical mind-body problem: What is the nature of
the relationship between the immaterial, conscious mind and its
physical basis in the electro-chemical interactions in the body?

Neuroscientists exploit a number of empirical approaches to shed light
on the neural basis of consciousness. This article reviews these
approaches and summarizes what has been learned."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_correlate_of_consciousness

"Progress in addressing the mind-body problem has come from focusing
on empirically accessible questions rather than on eristic
philosophical arguments. Key is the search for the neuronal correlates
- and ultimately the causes - of consciousness.