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 integration or a central workspace. This relatively recent theoretical framework emphasizes the importance of local computational operations and their coordination across brain regions.

The core mechanism involves local computations distributed across neural populations that collectively give rise to conscious experience without requiring a single integrative hub. Unlike Global Workspace Theory, which emphasizes global broadcasting to a central workspace, DLCT suggests that consciousness emerges from the pattern of local computational activity itself. The theory draws on computational neuroscience perspectives about how distributed representations and local processing can give rise to unified cognitive functions.

DLCT addresses questions about the neural correlates of consciousness by looking at distributed patterns of activity rather than seeking a single "seat" of consciousness. It offers potential explanations for how different aspects of experience might be processed in parallel while still constituting a unified conscious state. The theory connects to broader debates about localization versus distribution in brain function and provides a framework for understanding consciousness in terms of computational principles that could, in principle, be instantiated in different physical substrates.