Consciousness: A Molecular Perspective

Abstract

This perspective examines the role of chemistry and molecular biology for a science of consciousness. Opposed to the consensus view, we argue that the molecular organization of biological systems is key to arrive at a thorough understanding of the dynamics correlated to the phenomenology of consciousness in complex organisms. This is indicated by the fact that the molecular sciences either provide one or more mechanisms directly related to phenomenology or otherwise describe the dynamics of the underlying substrate. In addition, we discuss substrate-independence in information-processing theories of consciousness and the issue of combination in panpsychist theories of consciousness, both from the angle of the molecular sciences. In any case, molecular details matter.Keywords: consciousness studies; molecular mechanism; substrate independence; supervenience; information-processing theories; panpsychism A Molecular Basis for Consciousness?When trying to answer the question how to fit consciousness into a naturalist image of the world, there are different explanatory strategies one could pursue [1] 1 . Many exclusively believe in either (cognitive) neuroscience or fundamental physics to advance the science of consciousness. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to a neglect of the molecular picture that underlies the former and emerges from the latter. Taking the molecular perspective as advocated here also sharpens one's appreciation of problematic issues in consciousness studies that might otherwise be overlooked all too easily.Most popular among many working in the field is the idea that consciousness is a (structural or systemic) property of information-processing networks. This is exemplified by many neurobiological [2], functional [3], or information-processing [4] theories of consciousness. The role of chemistry, accordingly, lies in supporting the relevant neurobiological and computational substrate: Consciousness has a chemical basis; but the right level to look for a mechanism that "gives rise" or "correlates" to the contents of consciousness is not the molecular level itself but the level of, e.g., assemblies of neurons in the brain. Instead of providing molecular mechanisms, chemistry plays the role of materially grounding the corresponding theories of consciousness.We shall argue that limiting chemistry and molecular biology to a supportive role is deficient. In particular, we wish to stress the importance of taking the concrete molecular picture into account when trying to explain the way in which the content of consciousness-its "phenomenology"-is shaped. To this aim, we shall look at three issues in consciousness studies and emphasize the role of the molecular dynamics involved: First, we shall consider possible mechanisms at the molecular level, which we put into the context of reduction and supervenience. Second, the role 1 Different strategies are not exclusively linked to particular philosophical positions. We shall discuss the prospects of physicalism and panpsychism in this article, be...

Towards new concepts for a biological neuroscience of consciousness

“…The evidence above supports a multilevel organization, where the molecular environment, cellular organization and neural systems interact to ensure conscious experience (Thompson and Varela 2001;Prentner 2017;Kringelbach et al 2020). These multilevel cycles and processes between brain and body underpin the integrity of the organism as a whole (Thompson and Varela 2001).…”

Towards new concepts for a biological neuroscience of consciousness

“…The evidence above supports a multilevel organization, where the molecular environment, cellular organization and neural systems interact to ensure conscious experience [39,79,80]. These multilevel cycles and processes between brain and body underpin the integrity of the organism as a whole [39].…”

Autopoiesis and Its Efficacy—A Metacybernetic View

“…Agencies that are capable of using only assimilation in their internal processes have implicit cognition and a primitive conscious awareness, while those also capable of accommodation have explicit cognition and a more developed conscious awareness. Implicit cognition is a general agency property through which information can be processed [64], and it delivers a primitive consciousness connected with agency learning and an ability to modify agency configurations and states in autonomous adaptation [65]. Developed consciousness provides a form of evolution based on stable dynamic support, yielding to strongly anticipative behaviour such as motricity, and enhanced memory and adaptive features, and developed regulation.…”

“…This requires that the dynamic in an agency ecosystem composed of subagencies can be anticipated, thereby facilitating an appreciation towards the needs of sustainability. For Vickers [64], appreciation is important to the value-based perspective that is consistent with the networking needs of benefit, and for sustainability. This requires that subagencies need to be prepared to respond to interactions through a valuing of processes that are self-reinforcing, and that involve an examination of their dynamic trajectories and subordinate amenities that enable them to satisfy their functionalities [83].…”