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Consciousness: An Energy-Based Approach to Information Generation

Antoine Beaudoin

Journal of Consciousness Studies December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.53765/20512201.31.11.032 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Key points Proposes that consciousness emerges when a neuron generates an electromagnetic field that represents the information encoded in that neuron through its energy, and argues that mechanisms for storing environmental information can control this field's energy via effects on dendritic spikes during rhythmic synchronized activity.

Abstract

A fundamental question in the field of consciousness is how and why physical processes in the brain give rise to consciousness, a problem named the ‘hard problem of consciousness’ by David Chalmers. Despite numerous studies, neuroscience has yet to agree on a single account that addresses the hard problem of consciousness. Here, I introduce the energy-information generation (EIG) theory to answer this problem. The EIG theory posits that consciousness emerges when a neuron generates an EM field which represents the information encoded in the neuron through its energy via numerous neural mechanisms. This paper explains how the mechanisms that allow neurons to store information about the environment can control the energy of the electromagnetic field of neurons through their impact on dendritic spikes during rhythmic synchronized activity. This theory proposes an answer to the hard problem of consciousness and could serve as a framework for future neuroscience research.