Non-separability of Physical Systems as a Foundation of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive June 28, 2022 Anton Arkhipov
Consciousness in physical systems arises from non-separability of degrees of freedom, with the amount of consciousness determined by the extent of this non-separability and the number of degrees of freedom involved. Non-interacting and feedforward systems have zero consciousness, while most interacting particle systems have low non-separability and consciousness. Brain circuits, with high complexity and weak but tightly coordinated interactions, support high non-separability and thus high consciousness. The hypothesis applies to both classical and quantum cases, and the Wigner function formalism (which becomes the Liouville density function in the classical limit) offers a framework for characterizing non-separability. The hypothesis aligns with Integrated Information Theory and Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory and may help reconcile them.