Lecture 21: Grand Theories of Consciousness

Question 1

What is the easy problem of consciousness?

Answer 1

The difference between unconsciousness and anything more.

Question 2

What is the hard problem of consciousness?

Answer 2

Explaining the quality of experiencing colours, sounds, etc.

Question 3

What are two research tools for examining consciousness?

Answer 3

1. Binocular rivalry: two different images to each eye - only see 1
2. Backward masking: greater delay, more conscious of stimulus

Question 4

What is Koch’s Neural Correlates of Consciousness theory?

Answer 4

There is a minimal set of neuronal events that give rise to a conscious percept - if you can find them, the problem falls out

Question 5

What is Koch’s Sparse Coding theory?

Answer 5

There are a small number of neurons selective for a specific concept.

Question 6

What is Dehaene’s main finding on the Global Workspace theory?

Answer 6

Using backwards masking, prefrontal areas are only activated if there is conscious of target stimuli (vs. early visual areas active for all mask delays)

Question 7

What is Tononi’s Integrated Information theory?

Answer 7

Consciousness ‘just is’ integrated information; greater number of possible states = more consciousness

Question 8

What are two contradictions in the IIT?

Answer 8

1. Cerebellum well connected to itself - many micro-conscious units?
2. IIT says nothing about time scale - systems in body signal at different speeds - multiple layers of consciousness?