A Map of Consciousness Studies: Questions and Approaches

Niikawa, Takuya

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.530152

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…Going further, the theory advocates a mathematical measure to evaluate not only the quantity but also the quality of consciousness. Hereby, it is argued that a maximum of intrinsic cause-effect power is fundamental, proposing a parameter termed ϕ, which reflects the amount of causally effective information that can be integrated across a subset of elements (Tononi, 2004;Oizumi et al, 2014;Tononi et al, 2016;Niikawa, 2020). Due to its level of formalization as a theory, and especially "a calculus to evaluate whether a physical system is conscious" (Tononi and Koch, 2015), the IIT has triggered a lot of responses, debates, and criticisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-organized criticality as a framework for consciousness: A review study

Walter

Hinterberger

2022

Front. Psychol.

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ObjectiveNo current model of consciousness is univocally accepted on either theoretical or empirical grounds, and the need for a solid unifying framework is evident. Special attention has been given to the premise that self-organized criticality (SOC) is a fundamental property of neural system. SOC provides a competitive model to describe the physical mechanisms underlying spontaneous brain activity, and thus, critical dynamics were proposed as general gauges of information processing representing a strong candidate for a surrogate measure of consciousness. As SOC could be a neurodynamical framework, which may be able to bring together existing theories and experimental evidence, the purpose of this work was to provide a comprehensive overview of progress of research on SOC in association with consciousness.MethodsA comprehensive search of publications on consciousness and SOC published between 1998 and 2021 was conducted. The Web of Science database was searched, and annual number of publications and citations, type of articles, and applied methods were determined.ResultsA total of 71 publications were identified. The annual number of citations steadily increased over the years. Original articles comprised 50.7% and reviews/theoretical articles 43.6%. Sixteen studies reported on human data and in seven studies data were recorded in animals. Computational models were utilized in n = 12 studies. EcoG data were assessed in n = 4 articles, fMRI in n = 4 studies, and EEG/MEG in n = 10 studies. Notably, different analytical tools were applied in the EEG/MEG studies to assess a surrogate measure of criticality such as the detrended fluctuation analysis, the pair correlation function, parameters from the neuronal avalanche analysis and the spectral exponent.ConclusionRecent studies pointed out agreements of critical dynamics with the current most influencing theories in the field of consciousness research, the global workspace theory and the integrated information theory. Thus, the framework of SOC as a neurodynamical parameter for consciousness seems promising. However, identified experimental work was small in numbers, and a heterogeneity of applied analytical tools as a surrogate measure of criticality was observable, which limits the generalizability of findings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-organized criticality as a framework for consciousness: A review study

Walter

Hinterberger

2022

Front. Psychol.

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“…Building on the monism and physicalism of these three philosophical approaches, the scientific materialist understanding of the origins and nature of consciousness, approaches the subject matter from a materialist perspective and highlights the neural correlates of consciousness (Chalmers,et al [2,3,7]). Neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) "are the minimal neuronal mechanisms jointly sufficient for a specific content, dimension, or structure of consciousness (or the presence of consciousness itself)" (Niikawa [27]). The neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) are operationalized and ascertained through brain-process recording and scanning machines such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and brain stimulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) that compare brain recordings of subjects that are conscious against those that are not conscious.…”

Section: Theoretical or Conceptual Background Of The Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consciousness Field Theory: A Critical Review

Mocombe

2023

BJSTR

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This work offers a critical review of the ontological question regarding the origins and nature of consciousness. In the attempt to resolve the structure/agency problematic of the social sciences, Paul C. Mocombe offers his consciousness field theory and phenomenological structuralism in response to structuration theory. This work critically assesses Mocombe's consciousness field theory within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature, origin, and constitution of consciousness, especially human consciousness.

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“…Finally, our meta-theoretical approach to the function of consciousness can be integrated with other meta-theoretical studies that aim to compare and classify general theories of consciousness ( Niikawa 2020 ; Doerig et al. 2021 ; Pin et al.…”

Section: Conclusion: the Three-dimensional Framework And Its Usefulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is no consensus about what consciousness is, and the relationship between different theories of consciousness is far from clear. To resolve this troublesome situation, some researchers have developed approaches to systematically compare and assess theories of consciousness ( Niikawa 2020 ; Doerig et al. 2021 ; Pin et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functions of consciousness: conceptual clarification

Niikawa¹,

Miyahara

Hamada

et al. 2022

Neuroscience of Consciousness

Self Cite

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There are many theories of the functions of consciousness. How these theories relate to each other, how we should assess them, and whether any integration of them is possible are all issues that remain unclear. To contribute to a solution, this paper offers a conceptual framework to clarify the theories of the functions of consciousness. This framework consists of three dimensions: (i) target, (ii) explanatory order, and (iii) necessity/sufficiency. The first dimension, target, clarifies each theory in terms of the kind of consciousness it targets. The second dimension, explanatory order, clarifies each theory in terms of how it conceives of the explanatory relation between consciousness and function. The third dimension, necessity/sufficiency, clarifies each theory in terms of the necessity/sufficiency relation posited between consciousness and function. We demonstrate the usefulness of this framework by applying it to some existing scientific and philosophical theories of the functions of consciousness.

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A Map of Consciousness Studies: Questions and Approaches

Cited by 12 publications

References 71 publications

Self-organized criticality as a framework for consciousness: A review study

Self-organized criticality as a framework for consciousness: A review study

Consciousness Field Theory: A Critical Review

Functions of consciousness: conceptual clarification

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