World Modeling, Integrated Information, and the Physical Substrates of Consciousness; Hidden Sources of the Stream of Experience?

Abstract

In this brief commentary on The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness, I describe ways in which Mark Solms’ account of the origins of subjective experience relates to Integrated World Modeling Theory (IWMT). IWMT is a synthetic theory that brings together different perspectives, with the ultimate goal of solving the enduring problems of consciousness, including the Hard problem. I describe points of compatibility and incompatibility between Solms’ proposal and IWMT, with particular emphasis on how a Bayesian interpretation of Integrated Information Theory and Global (Neuronal) Workspace Theory may help identify the physical and computational substrates of consciousness.