What I Am Will Be? A Convergence A Topology of Neural Substrate, Structure, an Endomorphism: Consciousness Its Cells-Itself.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 24, 2026 Stewart, Arthur
Consciousness is the point where past, present, and anticipated future converge, derived from the brain's wiring. Four neural loops implement gating, contextualization, resolution, and commitment, mapping onto a directed graph with one structurally exceptional node receiving three streams within a 50 to 150 ms window. One loop delivers the present (incident signal), one the past (trace of prior cycles), and one the anticipated future (prior expectation). Consciousness is that convergence, matching Husserl's phenomenological "living present." The four loops are a Layer 5 pyramidal recurrent loop, a central lateral thalamocortical loop, a VTA-cortical dopaminergic loop, and an ACC-mediodorsal thalamic loop.