Bidirectional theory approach to consciousness

Abstract

This chapter proposes several computational hypotheses about consciousness based on the recent studies on motor control and vision. Consciousness is classified into three different levels: vigilance, coherent perception and behaviour, and self-consciousness. This chapter focuses on the latter two classifications because the bidirectional theories developed in computational studies of motor control and vision primarily have significant implications on them. In the following three sections, the author explains the background of the development of the bidirectional theory for visually guided arm-reaching movements, the bidirectional theory itself, and its extension to different voluntary movements such as handwriting and speech-motor control. The next section introduces a bidirectional theory for vision. Finally, the hypothesis about coherent perception and behaviour is stated in the framework of sensory-motor integration, as well as the hypothesis about self-consciousness.