IIT

Question 1

Integrated information theory

Answer 1

Set of phenomenological axioms; self-evident truths about consciousness. Can’t be doubted and don’t need proof. Central axioms:

1. Intrinsic existence
   - Consciousness exist intrinsically and is real, independent of external observers
2. Composition
   - Structured, each is composed of distinctions which exist within it
3. Information
   - Specific, each experience is the particular way it is
4. Exclusion;
   -Definite, in content and spatio-temporal grain.

5 Integration (!)
Unified, each experience is irreducible to non-interdependent subsets of distinctions

Question 2

Integrated info

Answer 2

Phi is the amount of integrated information. All neurons are interconnected, but the information is very low bc they’re all connected. The lower the information that can be carried decides the

Question 3

Corticothalamic system

Answer 3

Consciousness exists here, making the phi quite high, except in the cerebellum, afferent pathways, epilepsy or sleep.

They give rise to complexes containing more elements but with reduced phi compared to the corticothalamic pathway.

Phi peaks in balanced states, if too many or too few elements are active phi collapses. Widespread interaction is integrated nothingness.

Question 4

Feedforward systems

Answer 4

Strictly feedforward systems have zero Phi.

Bc of the interactions, the recurrent system has information.. It can do the exact same as a feedforward networl (but it’d have to be a lot larger compared to recurrent processing network). This alternative complex system goes in one direction, making the phi 0, making it unconscious.

So : it is a structural, and not a functional theory of consciousness

Question 5

PCI activation

Answer 5

The integrated information activity (high complexity) that is typical to the PFC gives a high PCI .

PCI is a simple version of calculating Phi
- Low integration is little PCI, similar curves
- High integration with loss of information gives high PCI but similar curves
- The middle (high info and high integration) gives a complex PCI