“You seem to be saying that because some part of the brain lights up when somebody thinks of a cat that you know what’s going on.”
“What’s going on” is such a broad, non-defined, open-ended phrase. Use of such phrases is what i mean by saying I don’t think you really know what you are trying to say.
The answer to your question, though, is yes. It is known what is going on is that there are consistent patterns of biochemical activity in specific neuroanatomical regions in response to given stimuli, eg thinking of a cat.
That just literally factual.
It certainly doesn’t solve the mystery of consciousness. But it provides observational data.
I think you’re thinking people claim it solves consciousness or proves something philosophical or metaphysical or theological. It doesn’t.
And, I do think there are all sorts of blowhards who do make outlandish statements regarding neurophysiological observations, attributing to them conclusions that aren’t merited or even relevant.
I think this latter group of charlatans in the consciousness business are to whom you are mostly reacting.
My only point is that there is so much we don’t know. An atheist says he knows.