Theories and measures of consciousness: An extended framework
Anil K. Seth, Eugene M. Izhikevich, George N. Reeke, Gerald M. Edelman
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences July 5, 2006 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0604347103 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Measure data warehouse Artificial intelligence Key lock Cognitive science Quantitative analysis chemistry Complex system Characterization materials science Data science Machine learning Data mining |
| Citations | 327 |
| Key points | Argues that no single quantitative measure fully captures the multidimensional complexity of neural systems underlying consciousness, and that a satisfactory theory must combine qualitative and quantitative elements. |
Abstract
A recent theoretical emphasis on complex interactions within neural systems underlying consciousness has been accompanied by proposals for the quantitative characterization of these interactions. In this article, we distinguish key aspects of consciousness that are amenable to quantitative measurement from those that are not. We carry out a formal analysis of the strengths and limitations of three quantitative measures of dynamical complexity in the neural systems underlying consciousness: neural complexity, information integration, and causal density. We find that no single measure fully captures the multidimensional complexity of these systems, and all of these measures have practical limitations. Our analysis suggests guidelines for the specification of alternative measures which, in combination, may improve the quantitative characterization of conscious neural systems. Given that some aspects of consciousness are likely to resist quantification altogether, we conclude that a satisfactory theory is likely to be one that combines both qualitative and quantitative elements.
Citations in the library
Cited by 95
- A Theoretically Based Index of Consciousness Independent of Sensory Processing and Behavior Science Translational Medicine August 14, 2013
- Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Scientific Reports April 19, 2017
- Practical Measures of Integrated Information for Time-Series Data PLoS Computational Biology January 20, 2011
- Biology of Consciousness Frontiers in Psychology 2011
- The rise of machine consciousness: studying consciousness with computational models. Neural Networks August 1, 2013
and 90 more in the library