Building a quantum superposition of conscious states with integrated information theory
arXiv Preprint Archive September 25, 2023 Kelvin J. McQueen, Ian T. Durham, Markus P. Mueller
A quantum superposition of consciousness, as in Wigner's friend thought experiment, may be possible under integrated information theory (IIT). IIT treats consciousness as a measurable quantity, integrated information (Φ), so a system's consciousness equals its Φ. Using the latest IIT formalism (IIT4.0), the authors analyze the simplest nonzero-Φ system, a feedback dyad, and propose a circuit putting it into a superposition of states. This would correspond to a superposition of conscious states, called "Schrödinger's dyad." Either IIT is false or the dyad is conscious and easily superposed. The simplest consciousness-collapse model predicts this superposition is unstable, collapsing at a rate determined by differences between the superposed conscious states.