Modeling of will and consciousness based on the human language: Interpretation of qualia and psychological consciousness.
Mina Arakaki, Chikako Dozono, Hanna Frolova, Hana Hebishima, Shinichi Inage
Bio Systems May 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.104890 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA previously proposed mathematical model of consciousness, the HLbC model, is applied to psychological phenomena and shown to account for optical illusions, empathy, mutual understanding, and prospect theory. Optical illusions like Rubin's vase arise from stochastic fluctuations in consciousness when a figure permits multiple interpretations. Empathy and mutual understanding are mathematically represented using Kullback-Leibler divergence, a core component of the model. The model also successfully explains properties of prospect theory, which underlies behavioral economics. These results indicate the HLbC model can explain aspects of psychological consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Human language Mathematical model Psychology Qualia |
| Key finding | Argues that the HLbC model can explain optical illusions, empathy, mutual understanding, and properties of prospect theory in terms of mathematical constructs such as stochastic fluctuation and Kullback-Leibler divergence. |
Abstract
In a previous paper, the authors proposed a mathematical definition of a public language and a new model of consciousness based on that public language. Consciousness spans a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, philosophy, mathematics, physics, and psychology, and it is desirable that the model of consciousness should also be able to answer questions of consciousness in each discipline. This paper applies the HLbC model proposed by the authors to the question of psychological consciousness and examines whether it can explain the phenomenon. Regarding the problem of so-called optical illusions, such as Rubin's vase, it can be explained by the fact that consciousness is caused by a stochastic fluctuation of consciousness with respect to figures that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Empathy and mutual understanding are also proposed to be mathematically represented and understood in terms of the Kullback-Leibler divergence, which is the basis of the HLbC model. Furthermore, the HLbC model was applied to prospect theory, the basis of behavioural economics, and confirmed that its properties can be successfully explained. From the above, we confirmed that the proposed HLbC model can explain the phenomenon of psychological consciousness.