From Micro to Macro: The Combination of Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology March 31, 2022 Asa Young, Isabella Robbins, Shivang Shelat
Consciousness may extend beyond the individual brain to form a hierarchical cognitive system when people interact. Building on evidence that the electromagnetic fields of interacting individuals synchronize, the authors propose that coupled agents can merge into a group-level conscious system through recurrent, entraining behavioral interactions. Using General Resonance Theory, they describe how synchronized electromagnetic fields optimize information flow, altering individual conscious states and enhancing group performance. While the existence of a physical basis for group consciousness remains speculative, the framework offers testable predictions for empirical research.