Non-separability of Physical Systems as a Foundation of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive June 28, 2022 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Neuroscience q-bio.nc Complex systems cond-mat.dis-nn Quantum biology Emergence |
| Key finding | Non-separability of degrees of freedom is the fundamental property underlying consciousness, with its extent and the number of involved degrees of freedom determining the amount of consciousness. |
Abstract
A hypothesis is presented that non-separability of degrees of freedom is the fundamental property underlying consciousness in physical systems. The amount of consciousness in a system is determined by the extent of non-separability and the number of degrees of freedom involved. Non-interacting and feedforward systems have zero consciousness, whereas most systems of interacting particles appear to have low non-separability and consciousness. By contrast, brain circuits exhibit high complexity and weak but tightly coordinated interactions, which appear to support high non-separability and therefore high amount of consciousness. The hypothesis applies to both classical and quantum cases, and we highlight the formalism employing the Wigner function (which in the classical limit becomes the Liouville density function) as a potentially fruitful framework for characterizing non-separability and, thus, the amount of consciousness in a system. The hypothesis appears to be consistent with both the Integrated Information Theory and the Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory and may help reconcile the two. It offers a natural explanation for the physical properties underlying the amount of consciousness and points to methods of estimating the amount of non-separability as promising ways of characterizing the amount of consciousness.