An integrative control theory perspective on consciousness.

Abstract

An integrative account of consciousness should have a number of properties. It should build upon a framework of nonconscious behavior in order to explain how and why consciousness contributes to, and addresses the limitations of, nonconscious processes. It should also encompass the primary (phenomenal), secondary (access), and tertiary (self-awareness) aspects of consciousness. A number of accounts have proposed a role for consciousness in the prediction of sensory input, yet these proposals do not address how organisms deal with multiple, unpredictable, disturbances to maintain control. According to perceptual control theory (PCT), purposiveness is the control of hierarchically organized perceptual variables via changes in output that counteract disturbances which would otherwise increase error between the current value and the reference value (goal state) of each perceptual variable. In PCT, reorganization is the process required for the adaptive modification of control systems in order to reduce the error in intrinsic systems that control essential, largely physiological, variables. The current article proposes that primary consciousness emerges from this system, and is sustained as secondary consciousness through a number of processes including the control of the integration rate of novel information via exploratory behavior, attention, imagination, and altering the mutation rate of reorganization. Tertiary consciousness arises when internally sustained perceptual information is associated with specific symbols that form a parallel, propositional system for the use of language, logic, and other symbolic systems. The hypotheses and initial research designs to test this account are provided.

When the Mind Comes to Live Inside the Body: The Ontogeny of the Perceptual Control Clock

“…It is noted that PCT has been shown to be applicable to adult perception and has been recently applied to human consciousness [ 49 , 50 ]. But if viewed sequentially, through the adjustments of the “set-points,” its developmental application may be suggested, from early embryonic life through the onset of rational thinking ability, around the age of 2 years postnatally, when the massive cortical progress and changes in its organization and complexity reach a peak [ 51 ].…”

Primary states of consciousness: A review of historical and contemporary developments

“…Here, we set asides the latter question of phenomenal consciousness (i.e., "what it feels like to be aware of something") to focus on the question of access consciousness (i.e., the ability to use information in a flexible and adaptive way, to integrate it with other information and to act upon it) (Block, 1992). We assume a view of consciousness as a basic biologic imperative of adaptation and control (Baars, 1997;Mansell, 2022;Maturana, 1990;Mayr, 2004). According to this view, the brain is constantly receiving sensory input and generating motor output in order to maintain homeostasis and achieve desired goals (Friston et al, 2012;Powers, 2009).…”

Primary States of Consciousness: A Review of Historical and Contemporary Developments

“…Here, we set asides the latter question of phenomenal consciousness (i.e., "what it feels like to be aware of something") to focus on the question of access consciousness (i.e., the ability to use information in a flexible and adaptive way, to integrate it with other information and to act upon it) (Block 1992). We assume a view of consciousness as a basic biologic imperative of adaptation and control (Maturana 1990;Baars 1997;Mansell 2022;Mayr 2004). According to this view, the brain is constantly receiving sensory input and generating motor output in order to maintain homeostasis and achieve desired goals (Powers 2009;Friston, Samothrakis, and Montague 2012).…”