Filled/non-filled pairs: An empirical challenge to the integrated information theory of consciousness.
Consciousness and Cognition January 1, 2022 Amber R Hopkins, Kelvin J. McQueen
Perceptual filling-in occurs when the brain inserts visual properties like color or motion into areas of the visual field that lack corresponding retinal input. This paper introduces filled/non-filled pairs—images that look identical but differ in the amount of filling-in required—as a tool for testing theories of consciousness. A review of recent experiments suggests that filling-in involves brain activity with higher integrated information (Φ) compared to veridical perceptions. These pairs pose a challenge to integrated information theory, which predicts that phenomenologically identical experiences should depend on brain processes with identical Φ.