Theories of Consciousness Flashcards
What is the Recurrent processing model
looks at consciousness as a take of inattended and attended and recurrent (goes in a loop ) and feedforward (we take it the info) and if we have all 4 we are conscious
feedfordwrd brain loop just goes from one to the next part but in the recurrent loop it going back to the previous area , circular pathway
Pros and cons of Recurrent processing
Pros
- Do not need to worry about subjective states , just focus on the loops
- Clear neurobiological framework
- Links to the access conscious (reporting consciousness ) and phenomelogical conscious (lower level consciousness)
Cons
- local recurrent loops and local consciousness probably falsifiable and wrong
- what actually is a local vs gloval recurrent loop
- not enough detail
What are higher order theories
links to metacongition, knowing that you know
- consciousness happens as meta-representation in the PFC
Pros and cons of HIgher order
Pros - clear demarcation between unconscious and conscious states , need both of these states
- clear neurobiological framework (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex)
- Links to the most robust NCC which is the DLPFC
cons - too many forms of this theory
- infinite regress know that you know that you know etc where do we draw the line
attentional schema theory
- attention acts as a gateway for consciousness
- acts to select/boost/combine low level information for
conscious contents.
pros and cons of attentiuonal schema theory
pros
1. Aligns with evidence that attention and consciousness closely related
2. Provides a plausible psychological framework for the nature and
purpose of consciousness
3. Can link closely to the neurobiological attentional literature
(substantial.
cons
. Great linking of attention to consciousness, but what about
all the other features of consciousness (connection with WM,
all the different qualia, etc.)?
2. What does an “attentional schema” actually mean?
Especially on a neural level?
3. Another theory with little really detailed content…
predictive coding theories
predictive top down sweep through the brain is when we are conscious. Recurrent loop of predictive coding in the circuit
Pros and cons of predictive coding
pros - Good at explaining some features of consciousness (such as
self/body consciousness – see Anil Seth’s work)
2. Has reasonable neuroscientific predictions (consciousness linked
with “top down” signalling).
3. Can help explain non-standard conscious experiences (visual
illusions)
4. Can help explain clinical conditions (schizophrenia
5. Links closely with attention (selective attention is very similar to
“precision weighting”)
Cons
- theory unfalsifiable
What is the Entropic brain theory
Entropy - amount of complexity of something
high entropy states - psycadelics
Criticality - a relationship between different features of place and time at different levels, this state information can be optimally transferered in a system
low entropy - sedation OCD depression
we can look at eeg at differnt states such as REM wake light sleep , also studies show extra information and activity in LSD states
levels of entropy link to levels of consciousness
Entropic brain theory pros and cons
- clear quantifiable predictions
- experimental support
- links to other theories such as IIT
can help explain conditions such as epilepsy
Cons
- lacks phenomenological detail
- is consciousness just criticality and entropy , seems to narrow
- overlaps with other theories
Global neuronal workspace theory
- A first subliminal processing
- Large loops all around the cortex , which is the global neuronal workspace, conscious awareness
we see an ignition of the whole prefrontal parietal network
pros and cons of the global workspace theory
- well defined , falsifiable
- empirical support from a range of paradigms
- links to attention
- Links clearly to the prefrontal parietal network
cons
- limited anatomically such as animals without prefrontal parietal network
- does not explain the phenomenology of consciousness
Integrated information theory
5 axioms
. Intrinsic Existence - Each experience exists from its own point
of view.
2. Composition - An experience is structured: it is composed of
multiple phenomenological distinctions that coexist.
3. Information - Each experience is specific: it carries
“differentiated” information.
4. Integration - All the phenomenological distinctions in your
current experience are unified into a single whole scene.
5. Exclusion -Each experience has definite borders in space and
time.
network should have a high Fi when there is high diffrientiation and integration
happening in the posterior parietal cortex and this is where we see the highest FI
pros and cons of IIT
pros
- tries to answer hard problem of consciousness
- mathmateically well defined
- defines the unitary nature of consciouness
cobs
- maths has been seen as flawed, (scott anderson)
- if you link consciousness to the PFC, it inadventanly is against IIT
- very hard to verify , empirically not very strong
- hard to say it holds consciousness to a single number
