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Explanatory Correlates of Consciousness: Theoretical and Computational Challenges

Anil SethContact Information

(1)  Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QJ, UK

Published online: 25 January 2009

Abstract  Consciousness is a key feature of mammalian cognition and revealing its underlying mechanisms is one of the most important scientific challenges for the 21st century. In this article I review how computational and theoretical approaches can facilitate a transition from correlation to explanation in consciousness science. I describe progress towards identifying ‘explanatory correlates’ underlying four fundamental properties characterizing most if not all conscious experiences: (i) the co-existence of segregation and integration in conscious scenes, (ii) the emergence of a subjective first-person perspective, (iii) the presence of affective conscious contents, either transiently (emotion) or as a background (mood) and (iv) experiences of intention and agency that are characteristic of voluntary action. I also discuss how synthetic approaches can shed additional light on possible functions of consciousness, the role of embodiment in consciousness, and the plausibility of constructing a conscious artefact.

Keywords  Consciousness - Explanatory correlate - Causal density - Complexity - Perspectivalness - Emotion - Volition - Computational model - Selfhood - Emergence

Invited article for inaugural issue of Cognitive Computation.

Contact Information Anil Seth
Email: a.k.seth@sussex.ac.uk
URL: www.anilseth.com

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