Informational analysis of consciousness.
The International journal of neuroscience 1981 DOI: 10.3109/00207458108985806 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the unconscious and subconscious consist mainly of algorithmic processes governed by precise rules, whereas awareness and consciousness are mainly heuristic and lack such rules. Proposes that consciousness discovers processing rules for information that cannot be processed algorithmically, thereby helping the unconscious and subconscious adapt to variable environmental conditions. |
Abstract
Informational analysis of neurophysiological processes leads to the conclusion that the unconscious and subconscious comprise especially algorithmic processes, which take place according to precise rules, and awareness and consciousness comprise especially heuristic processes, for which the nervous system does not provide precise rules. The part played by awareness and consciousness is to find the processing rules of information which cannot be algorithmically processed. This paper describes the way that awareness and consciousness manage to discover the processing rules of information and the manner of their contribution to the adaptation of the unconscious and of the subconscious to the very variable conditions of the environment.