Delay Coordinate Embedding as Neuronally Implemented Information Processing: The State Space Theory of Consciousness
Journal of Consciousness Studies February 1, 2025 V. O’Reilly-Shah
The state space theory of consciousness proposes that the cortex processes information by using recurrent neural network engines to embed sensory input into a state space, following Takens' theorem. Consciousness arises at the highest-order engines within a hierarchy of parallel pathways, making it a dynamic process rather than a static neuronal state. This reconciles dualist intuitions with a monist perspective. Each individual's neuronal representations develop uniquely due to history-dependent training, explaining the privacy of qualia, cortical plasticity, and heuristic processing. The theory's non-linear dynamics, sensitive to initial conditions, account for ambiguous figure interpretation and suggest a pathway to free will. It aligns with and expands upon higher-order theories, global workspace theories, and integrated information theory by providing a unifying computational mechanism.