The evolutionary function of conscious information processing is revealed by its task-dependency in the olfactory system.
Frontiers in Psychology February 5, 2014 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00062 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Evolution Information processing Consciousness Olfaction Task-dependency |
| Key points | Argues that conscious information processing is required when an organism faces tasks with many available behavioral options, and proposes that its evolutionary function is to guide behavior in situations where the organism must choose among many possible responses. |
Abstract
Although many responses to odorous stimuli are mediated without olfactory information being consciously processed, some olfactory behaviors require conscious information processing. I will here contrast situations in which olfactory information is processed consciously to situations in which it is processed non-consciously. This contrastive analysis reveals that conscious information processing is required when an organism is faced with tasks in which there are many behavioral options available. I therefore propose that it is the evolutionary function of conscious information processing to guide behaviors in situations in which the organism has to choose between many possible responses.
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Cites 6
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- A computational neuroscience approach to consciousness. Neural Networks November 1, 2007
and 1 more in the library