Consciousness Studies/Table Of Theories
Theories of Consciousness
[edit | edit source]Some recent scientific theories of consciousness are tabulated below. The extent to which they account for the phenomenon of consciousness is shown.
It is remarkable that many of the theories are consistent with one another. As in the tale of the 'blind men and the elephant' some of the theories seem to describe the trunk, some the tail etc. but they all seem to be part of the same elephant! The convergence of the theories is shown in the illustration below:
Table of theories
[edit | edit source]
A = Model of observer's view <PB = Model of Anaesthetic Action in thalamusC = Explanation of Libet's data |
D = Explanation of unconscious but active cerebral cortex E = Explanation of knowing you know F = Explanation of non-computability |
G = Binding (simultaneous processing of relevant data) H = Extended present I = Quantum state vector reduction |
Name |
Author/Ref |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
Microconsciousness |
Zeki, S., & Bartel, A. (1999) Toward a Theory of Visual Consciousness. Consciousness & Cognition, 8, 225-259. |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Geometrical Phenomenalism |
Green, A. (2003) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ORCH-R |
Hameroff, S & Penrose, R. 1989 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Quantum Brain Model |
Ricciardi, L. M. and H. Umezawa, 1967. Brain physics and many-body problems, Kibernetik 4, 44-48. |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
? |
Y |
N |
Y |
Many Minds |
Donald, M. 1990. Quantum Theory and the Brain. Proc R Soc Lond. A427 43-93. |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
? |
? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
A = Model of observer's view B = Model of Anaesthetic Action in thalamus C = Explanation of Libet's data |
D = Explanation of unconscious but active cerebral cortex E = Explanation of knowing you know F = Explanation of non-computability |
G = Binding (simultaneous processing of relevant data) H = Extended present I = Quantum state vector reduction |
Name |
Author/Ref |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
Dual-Time Supercausality |
King, C.C. 1989. Physics Essays 2/2 128-151. |
N /TD> |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
Y |
Spin Mediated Consciousness |
Hu, H. & Wu, M. 2002. Spin-Mediated Consciousness Theory: An Approach Based On Pan-Protopsychism. |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
? |
Y |
N |
Y |
Quantum Theory of Consciousness (synaptic cleft) |
Walker, E.W. 1998. the Noetic Journal, 1, 100-107, 1998 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
A = Model of observer's view B = Model of Anaesthetic Action in thalamus C = Explanation of Libet's data |
D = Explanation of unconscious but active cerebral cortex E = Explanation of knowing you know F = Explanation of non-computability |
G = Binding (simultaneous processing of relevant data) H = Extended present I = Quantum state vector reduction |
Name |
Author/Ref |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
Global Workspace Theory |
Baars, B. 1988. A cognitive theory of consciousness. Cambridge University Press, New York |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Topological Geometrodynamics (TGD) Inspired Theory of Consciousness |
Pitkänen, M. 199?. Topological Geometrodynamics |
Y |
? |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
The Conscious Electromagnetic Field Theory |
McFadden, J.J. 2002 |
Y |
? |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
? |
A = Model of observer's view B = Model of Anaesthetic Action in thalamus C = Explanation of Libet's data |
D = Explanation of unconscious but active cerebral cortex E = Explanation of knowing you know F = Explanation of non-computability |
G = Binding (simultaneous processing of relevant data) H = Extended present I = Quantum state vector reduction |
Name |
Author/Ref |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
Real Time Consciousness |
Smythies, J. 2003. Journal of Consciousness Studies 10:3 47-56 |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
? |
Y |
Y |
? |
Consciousness as memory |
Gerald Edelman's theory |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Single neuron theories of consciousness |
Edwards, J. (2006) How Many Pople Are There In My Head, And In Hers, Imprint Academic. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~regfjxe/aw.htmSevush, S. (2006) SINGLE-NEURON THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 238(3), 704-725. http://cogprints.org/4432/01 /single%5Fneuron%5Ftheory.htm |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |