The Central Enigma of Consciousness
Chris King
Nature Precedings November 5, 2008 DOI: 10.1038/npre.2008.2465.1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Proposes that consciousness arises from quantum anticipation based on entangled states driven by chaotic sensitivity of global brain dynamics, with chaotic excitation evolving as a universal sense organ in eukaryotes and later co-opted by complex nervous systems. |
Abstract
Abstract Abstract: The nature and physical basis of consciousness remains the central enigma of the scientific description of reality in the third millennium. This paper seeks to examine the phenomenal nature of subjective consciousness and elucidate a possible biophysical basis for its existence, in terms of a form of quantum anticipation based on entangled states driven by chaotic sensitivity of global brain dynamics during decision-making processes. Evidence is presented for the evolutionary emergence of chaotic excitation as a universal sense organ in the founding eucaryotes, which then became used in a context-sensitive manner by complex central nervous systems, leading to the dynamical brain.
Citations in the library
Cited by 1
Cites 4
- Ongoing spontaneous activity controls access to consciousness: a neuronal model for inattentional blindness. PLoS Biology June 15, 2016
- Converging intracranial markers of conscious access. PLoS Biology March 1, 2009
- Brain Dynamics Underlying the Nonlinear Threshold for Access to Consciousness PLoS Biology September 25, 2007
- Conscious intention and motor cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences June 2005