Criteria for an effective theory of consciousness and some preliminary attempts.
Consciousness and cognition June 1, 2004 L Andrew Coward, Ron Sun 20 citations
A rigorous scientific theory of consciousness requires a modular hierarchy of descriptions, similar to that used in electronic systems, where causal relationships at a phenomenological level are derived from simpler entities at more detailed levels. The causal relationships defining access and phenomenal consciousness are made explicit and linked to perception, memory, and skill learning. Extending these to physiological and neural levels is discussed. The capability of current consciousness models to support such a hierarchy is reviewed, with two models compared in detail.