The dynamic organicity theory of consciousness: how consciousness arises from the functionality of multiscale complexity in the material brain
Journal of Multiscale Neuroscience January 20, 2024 DOI: 10.56280/1609121701 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that consciousness can be explained by a "dynamic organicity theory" in which self-referential, multiscale causal processes structure intrinsic information through quantum-thermal fluctuations, and that anaesthesia abolishes consciousness by obliterating intrinsic information in membrane protein amino acids. Proposes that intentionality arises from spontaneous ordering via a negentropic quantum potential, and that the temporal disunity of causal order produces a weak unity of consciousness and a sense of self. |
Abstract
The fine structure of consciousness is temporally experienced. This makes possible a dynamic organicity theory of consciousness through disunified order in the pre-, sub- and noncognitive levels of causal processes and dynamics. This multilevel approach is based on functional systems where space is implicitly grounded as changeable boundary conditions (due to organicity), and energy capture and storage under energy flow entail structuring intrinsic information (as both hidden thermodynamic energy and hidden thermodynamic information). The use of anaesthesia indicates consciousness disappears when there is an obliteration of intrinsic information within membrane protein amino acids, suggesting that quantum-thermal fluctuations of the electromagnetic field can be functional and non-vacuous. The origin of thermo-qubit syntax is derived from the principle of self-reference as the syntax of consciousness. In addition to the classical Brownian motion of macroscopically observable mean values, the negentropically derived quantum potential is an additional degree of freedom where the structuring of intrinsic information takes place by negentropic action from the microscopically random quantum-thermal fluctuations. Such functional fluctuations provide a way for intentionality to come in from spontaneous ordering, leading to path selection as an instruction to act. The resultant intentionality becomes part of information-based action when functional interactions are selected and boundary conditions change, causing interference pattern matching through temporal re-organization of informational redundancy structures (not used in functional interactions). The self-referential dynamic structures (of evolving informational holons) transform syntactic structures into experienceable forms. In comparing the interference patterns of functional interactions during restructuring informational redundancy structures, the functionality of multiscale complexity as functional systems patterns gives experienceable forms the potential to understand “meaning” by reducing uncertainty in the process of structuring intrinsic information. The self-reference principle establishes dynamical pathways from the microscale to the macroscale (this includes nonlocal pathways), in which diachronic causation and how the disunity of causal order in the redundancy creates a weak unity of consciousness through its temporal structure, which has an inferred purpose that gives rise to a sense of self.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- A landscape of consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology August 1, 2024
- Self, Me, or I? Unravelling the Triumvirate of Selfhood in Pathological Consciousness. Brain Sciences June 13, 2025
- Thoughtseeds: A Hierarchical and Agentic Framework for Investigating Thought Dynamics in Meditative States. Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) April 24, 2025
- Consciousness and Energy Processing in Neural Systems. Brain Sciences November 1, 2024
- Neural state reduction: a quantum-inspired framework for how latent conscious thought becomes reportable Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience September 17, 2026
and 2 more in the library