Consciousness, Exascale Computational Power, Probabilistic Outcomes, and Energetic Efficiency
Cognitive Science April 1, 2023 Elizabeth A. Stoll
Consciousness may arise from the brain's use of probabilistic computation, a new approach to an old problem. The cerebral cortex, unlike spinal circuits or classical computers, shows five key features: exascale computing power not tied to binary unit count; noisy coding where random electrical events influence signaling; synchronous firing of random cell populations at nested frequencies; growth toward order by encoding predictive value; and extraordinary energy efficiency with little entropy loss. These features suggest the mammalian brain engages in probabilistic computation, which could explain the unique emergent properties of cortical networks.