The biological function of consciousness

Abstract

This research is an investigation of whether consciousness—one's ongoing experience—influences one's behavior and, if so, how. Analysis of the components, structure, properties, and temporal sequences of consciousness has established that, (1) contrary to one's intuitive understanding, consciousness does not have an active, executive role in determining behavior; (2) consciousness does have a biological function; and (3) consciousness is solely information in various forms. Consciousness is associated with a flexible response mechanism (FRM) for decision-making, planning, and generally responding in nonautomatic ways. The FRM generates responses by manipulating information and, to function effectively, its data input must be restricted to task-relevant information. The properties of consciousness correspond to the various input requirements of the FRM; and when important information is missing from consciousness, functions of the FRM are adversely affected; both of which indicate that consciousness is the input data to the FRM. Qualitative and quantitative information (shape, size, location, etc.) are incorporated into the input data by a qualia array of colors, sounds, and so on, which makes the input conscious. This view of the biological function of consciousness provides an explanation why we have experiences; why we have emotional and other feelings, and why their loss is associated with poor decision-making; why blindsight patients do not spontaneously initiate responses to events in their blind field; why counter-habitual actions are only possible when the intended action is in mind; and the reason for inattentional blindness.

Mind the Gap: A Seven-Question Field-Map Highlights Consciousness Science’s Critical, Neglected, Terrain

“…One emphasizes problems for conventional evolutionary explanations, for example claiming that conscious experience occurs too late to influence behavior, and therefore can't enhance fitness (Maley and Piccinini, 2018;Velmans, 2012). The other asserts that conscious experience has a biological function, for example in actionselection, and therefore can be selected for (Earl, 2014;Seth, 2018b).…”

Investigating A Hypothesis on The Mechanism of Long-Term Memory Storage

“…Here, we begin elaborating our model in which the human soul may play a role in LTM formation. Perception is the front line of gaining knowledge from the surrounding environment, through the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch (Earl, 2014). The sequence of events in perception includes the collection of information by the sensory organs (e.g.…”

Consciousness: a unique way of processing information

“…Scientific and philosophical studies of consciousness have repeatedly put forward the idea that consciousness is a form of information processing (Aleksander and Gamez 2011;Baars 1988;Earl 2014;Fingelkurts and Fingelkurts 2017;Jonkisz 2015Jonkisz , 2016Tononi 2008Tononi , 2012Tononi and Koch 2015). Focusing mainly on human consciousness, I elaborate on this idea, trying partly to integrate the explanations of consciousness offered by some of these scholars, and partly to overcome what I consider their shortcomings.…”

“…that consciousness has no effects should also explain why it matters that conscious experience must somehow correlate with reality, that is, it cannot be completely fantastical (Earl 2014;James 1890James /1983Morsella 2005).…”