The thalamic dynamic core theory of conscious experience

Ward, Lawrence M.

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2011.01.007

Cited by 136 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…Magnetoencephalography investigations indicate that gamma (35-45 Hz) band activity may represent a neurophysiological correlate to the processing of information (Llinas and Ribary 1993;Ward 2011;Joliot et al 1994;Ribary 2005;Bertrand and Tallon-Baudry 2000). They supported the idea that stimulus-specific gamma band activity allows to identify early operations activated by the stimulus apparition.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Differences of temporal dynamics and signal complexity of gamma band oscillations in first-episode psychosis during a working memory task

et al. 2017

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Gamma band oscillations participate in the temporal binding needed to synchronize cortical networks, involved in early sensory and short term memory processes. In earlier studies, alterations of these neurophysiological parameters have been found in psychotic disorders. To date no study has explored the temporal dynamics and signal complexity of gamma band oscillations in first episode psychosis (FEP). To address this issue, gamma band analysis was performed in 15 FEP patients and 18 healthy controls who successfully performed an adapted 2-back working memory task. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were computed to explore the relationship between the cognitive status and gamma oscillation changes over time. Based on regression model results, phase diagrams were constructed and their complexity was estimated using fractal dimension, a mathematical tool that describes shapes as numeric values. When adjusted for gamma values at time lags -3 to -4 ms and -15 to -16 ms, FEP patients displayed significantly higher time-dependent changes than controls, independently of the nature of the task. The present results are consistent with a discoordination of the activity of cortical generators engaged by the stimulus apparition in FEP patients, leading to a global binding deficit. In addition, fractal analysis showing higher complexity of gamma signal, confirmed this deficit. Our results provide evidence for recruitment of supplementary cortical generators as compensating mechanisms and yield further understanding for the pathophysiology cognitive impairments in FEP.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Differences of temporal dynamics and signal complexity of gamma band oscillations in first-episode psychosis during a working memory task

et al. 2017

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“…Furthermore, it is unclear what the relations are between probabilistic representations required by a Bayesian brain and the singular and unitary character of conscious experience itself. Merker argues that while in cortex information is generally maintained in the form of probability distributions, the content of consciousness is instead linked to the 'collapsing' of probability functions into a simpler unitary format required for subcortical processing [53], providing global best estimates of variables of interest within narrow time windows [60]. In addition, the question is whether conscious experience itself is dominated by top-down predictions or bottomup prediction errors, which we will revisit below.…”

Section: The Dimensions Of Consciousnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Verschure

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'. Understanding the nature of consciousness is one of the grand outstanding scientific challenges. The fundamental methodological problem is how phenomenal first person experience can be accounted for in a third person verifiable form, while the conceptual challenge is to both define its function and physical realization. The distributed adaptive control theory of consciousness (DACtoc) proposes answers to these three challenges. The methodological challenge is answered relative to the hard problem and DACtoc proposes that it can be addressed using a convergent synthetic methodology using the analysis of synthetic biologically grounded agents, or quale parsing. DACtoc hypothesizes that consciousness in both its primary and secondary forms serves the ability to deal with the hidden states of the world and emerged during the Cambrian period, affording stable multi-agent environments to emerge. The process of consciousness is an autonomous virtualization memory, which serializes and unifies the parallel and subconscious simulations of the hidden states of the world that are largely due to other agents and the self with the objective to extract norms. These norms are in turn projected as value onto the parallel simulation and control systems that are driving action. This functional hypothesis is mapped onto the brainstem, midbrain and the thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical systems and analysed with respect to our understanding of deficits of consciousness. Subsequently, some of the implications and predictions of DACtoc are outlined, in particular, the prediction that normative bootstrapping of conscious agents is predicated on an intentionality prior. In the view advanced here, human consciousness constitutes the ultimate evolutionary transition by allowing agents to become autonomous with respect to their evolutionary priors leading to a post-biological Anthropocene.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'.

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“…The neural correlation models are proposed by researchers to explain the development of consciousness in brain [2,11,13]. The mind-brain relationship and the structural analysis are derived through experimentation involving EEG, fMRI and, PET [1,2].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distributed Computation using Evolutionary Consciousness : An Approach

Bagchi¹

2015

IJCIS

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The modeling of biological phenomena and its adaptations to distributed computing are promising research areas. The computational modeling of neurobiological phenomena, such as cognition and consciousness, has potential for applications into bio-inspired distributed computing. The functioning of neurological structures is inherently distributed in nature having a closer match to distributed computing. This paper proposes a mathematical model of state of consciousness by following the functional neurophysiology as well as elements of distributed computing. The scopes of evolution of consciousness and memory are incorporated into the model. The nodal classifications and formation of structural hierarchy in distributed computing nodes by incorporating elements of cognitive model are investigated. Evaluation of the model is made by numerical simulation considering different choice functions. The results illustrate that, model of consciousness can be adapted to bio-inspired distributed computing structures and the gradual evolution of consciousness is deterministic under fair excitations from environment.

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The thalamic dynamic core theory of conscious experience

Cited by 136 publications

References 127 publications

Differences of temporal dynamics and signal complexity of gamma band oscillations in first-episode psychosis during a working memory task

Differences of temporal dynamics and signal complexity of gamma band oscillations in first-episode psychosis during a working memory task

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Distributed Computation using Evolutionary Consciousness : An Approach

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