Theories of Consciousness
Explore the major scientific and philosophical theories that attempt to explain the nature of consciousness, from physicalist and functionalist accounts to embodied and emergentist approaches.
Physicalist
Integrated Information Theory
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) proposes that consciousness is identical to integrated information, quantified as Φ (phi). Developed primarily by Giulio Tononi and collaborators including Christof...
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Recurrent Processing Theory
Recurrent Processing Theory (RPT) proposes that consciousness emerges from recurrent (or reentrant) neural processingbidirectional communication between brain areas where feedback from higher to lowe...
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Neurophenomenal Structuralism
Bridging neural activity and phenomenal structure
Key proponents: Georg Northoff
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Dendritic Integration Theory
Consciousness rooted in dendritic processing
Key proponents: Matthew Bhatt
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Functionalist
Global Workspace Theory
Global Workspace Theory (GWT) proposes that consciousness arises when information is broadcast widely throughout the brain via a "global workspace." Originally developed by Bernard Baars in the 1980s ...
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Higher-Order Thought Theory
Higher-Order Thought (HOT) theory proposes that a mental state becomes conscious when it is represented by a suitable higher-order mental state—typically a thought about that first-order state. Develo...
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Predictive Processing
Predictive Processing (PP), also known as the predictive brain or predictive coding framework, proposes that the brain is fundamentally a prediction machine that constantly generates models of the wor...
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Perceptual Control Theory
Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) proposes that behavior is organized around the control of perception rather than the production of outputs or responses to stimuli. Developed originally by William T. P...
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Free Energy Principle
The Free Energy Principle (FEP) proposes that all living organisms maintain their existence by minimizing variational free energyan upper bound on surprisal, defined as the negative log-probability o...
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Attention Schema Theory
Consciousness as an internal model of attention
Key proponents: Michael Graziano
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Eliminativist
Emergentist
Orchestrated Objective Reduction
Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) proposes that consciousness arises from quantum computations in brain microtubules, with moments of conscious experience corresponding to quantum state reduc...
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Dual-Level Causal Theory
Distributed Local Computations Theory (DLCT) proposes that consciousness arises from distributed computational processes occurring locally throughout neural networks, rather than requiring global inte...
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Irruption Theory
Irruption Theory proposes that consciousness involves moments of genuine novelty or "irruption" in cognitive systems—emergent events that cannot be fully predicted from or reduced to prior states. Dev...
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