The Modeler Schema Theory of Consciousness, with a Falsifiable Experiment
arXiv Preprint Archive November 30, 2025 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness arises from a single control agent, the Modeler-schema, which monitors the brain's Modeler as it constructs and updates the internal World Model. During this monitoring, the Modeler-schema generates experience by converting the Modeler's outputs into qualia, which are then used for model refinement. The Human agent consists of three cooperating agents—Modeler, Controller, and Targeter—each paired with a regulatory schema agent. The core prediction is that the Modeler-schema performs a qualia-based consistency check during saccades and may issue bottom-up attention requests when discrepancies are found. A saccadic change-detection experiment is proposed to test this prediction. Locating qualia in the Modeler-schema ties experience to model regulation, explains aphantasia as a selective failure of recalled-sensory quale-conversion, and offers a testable proposal toward solving the Hard Problem of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc |
| Key finding | Proposes that consciousness arises from a Modeler-schema agent that monitors the brain's Modeler and generates qualia through that monitoring, tying experience to model regulation and refinement. |
Abstract
We propose that consciousness arises from a single control agent, the Modeler-schema, which monitors the brain's Modeler as it constructs and updates the internal World Model. As part of that monitoring, the Modeler-schema generates experience by converting the Modeler's outputs into qualia, which are then used for model refinement. The Human agent comprises three cooperating agents-Modeler, Controller, and Targeter-each paired with a regulatory schema agent. Our core prediction is that the Modeler-schema performs a qualia-based consistency check during saccades and may issue bottom-up attention requests when discrepancies are found. To test this prediction, we propose a saccadic change-detection experiment that distinguishes Modeler-generated from Modeler-schema-generated bottom-up attention requests. Locating qualia in the Modeler-schema ties experience, including diffuse awareness (the full sensory field), to model regulation and refinement, explains aphantasia as a selective failure of recalled-sensory quale-conversion, and offers a testable proposal toward solving the Hard Problem of consciousness.