Neurophenomenal structuralism and the role of computational context

Summary

Neurophenomenal structuralism suggests that conscious experiences are relationally defined and reflected in neural structures. However, establishing links between neural and phenomenal structures alone is not enough. The paper argues that computational context, which includes the network of neural processes involved, is crucial for determining consciousness content. Four criteria are introduced to assess if neural structures can truly correlate with consciousness contents, emphasizing the importance of these structures being actively engaged by brain processes.

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Abstract

Neurophenomenal structuralism posits that conscious experiences are defined relationally and that their phenomenal structures are mirrored by neural structures. While this approach offers a promising framework for identifying neural correlates of the contents of consciousness, we argue that merely establishing structural correspondences between neural and phenomenal structures is insufficient. This paper emphasizes the critical role of computational context – the network of neural processes within which a given neural activation pattern is used – in determining content. We introduce four criteria to evaluate if neural structures are viable candidates for neural correlates of contents of consciousness within this framework. These criteria highlight that, for neural structures to mirror phenomenal structures meaningfully, they must be actively exploited by the brain’s downstream processes and influence behavior in a structure-preserving way. Our analysis demonstrates that purely anatomical and overly exhaustive causal structures fail to meet specific criteria, whereas activation structures can succeed, provided they are embedded within the appropriate computational context. Our findings challenge local structuralist theories, which overlook the content-constituting role of computational context. We conclude that incorporating computational context is essential for any structuralist account of consciousness.

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