A theory of consciousness: computation, algorithm, and neurobiological realization

DOI10.1007/S00422-019-00803-YMaRDI QIDQ2317464zbMATH OpenOpenAlexDBLPWikidataFDO

Authors J. H. van Hateren

Publication date 12 August 2019

Published in Biological Cybernetics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Copyright license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.02952

zbMATH Keywords

consciousnessestimationevolutionfitnesssentiencethalamocortical

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Cognitive psychology (91E10) Neural networks for/in biological studies, artificial life and related topics (92B20) Neural biology (92C20)

Abstract: The most enigmatic aspect of consciousness is the fact that it is felt, as a subjective sensation. The theory proposed here aims to explain this particular aspect. The theory encompasses both the computation that is presumably involved and the way in which that computation may be realized in the brain's neurobiology. It is assumed that the brain makes an internal estimate of an individual's own evolutionary fitness, which can be shown to produce a special, distinct form of causation. Communicating components of the fitness estimate (either for external or internal use) requires inverting them. Such inversion can be performed by the thalamocortical feedback loop in the mammalian brain, if that loop is operating in a switched, dual-stage mode. A first (nonconscious) stage produces forward estimates, whereas the second (conscious) stage inverts those estimates. It is argued that inversion produces another special, distinct form of causation, which is spatially localized and is plausibly sensed as the feeling of consciousness.

Recommendations

• Consciousness: Computing the uncomputable
• A hypothesis of consciousness or intelligent neuronet information systems
• Neural Algebra and Consciousness: A Theory of Structural Functionality in Neural Nets
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1255537
• Towards an axiomatic theory of consciousness
• Computational theories of mind, and Fodor's analysis of neural network behaviour

Cites work

• Causality. Models, reasoning, and inference
• Every good regulator of a system must be a model of that system †
• What do the basal ganglia do? A modeling perspective

Cited in

(6)

• Cognition is not computation: The argument from irreversibility
• Towards an axiomatic theory of consciousness
• A proposal of consciousness as both a fundamental and emergent property of the universe
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1048637 (Why is no real title available?)
• Abstract neural automata (ANA):existence of “empty” and origin of thought
• The computational limits to the cognitive power of the neuroidal tabula rasa

This page was built for publication: A theory of consciousness: computation, algorithm, and neurobiological realization

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2317464)