Consciousness, cognition, and context: extending the global neuronal workspace model
January 14, 2004
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that an information-theoretic model of interacting modules can produce tunable punctuation in the global neuronal workspace, enabling fits of phase transition power laws and generalized Onsager relations to conscious reaction data, and that extending this to include psychosocial and cultural contexts yields a 'biopsychosocial' model that better addresses objections to brain-only accounts. |
Abstract
We adapt an information theory analysis of interacting cognitive biological and social modules to the problem of the global neuronal workspace, the current standard neuroscience picture of consciousness. Tunable punctuation emerges in a natural manner, suggesting the possibility of fitting appropriate phase transition power law, and, away from transition, generalized Onsager relation expressions, to observational data on conscious reaction. The development can be extended in a straightforward way to include the role of psychosocial stress, culture, or other embedding structured contexts in individual consciousness, producing a 'biopsychosocial' model that closely retains the flavor of the standard treatment, but better meets philosophical and other objections to brain-only descriptions.