An Integration of Integrated Information Theory with Fundamental Physics

TL;DR

This paper proposes that consciousness arises from intrinsic information in fundamental physical fields, integrating Integrated Information Theory with modern physics to provide a physical basis for consciousness.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hypothesis linking consciousness to information in fundamental fields, extending IIT to fundamental physics without quantum considerations.

Findings

Consciousness may originate from information in fundamental fields.

The approach unifies physics and neuroscience perspectives.

It bypasses quantum effects in explaining consciousness.

Abstract

To truly eliminate Cartesian ghosts from the science of consciousness, we must describe consciousness as an aspect of the physical. Integrated Information Theory states that consciousness arises from intrinsic information generated by dynamical systems; however existing formulations of this theory are not applicable to standard models of fundamental physical entities. Modern physics has shown that fields are fundamental entities, and in particular that the electromagnetic field is fundamental. Here I hypothesize that consciousness arises from information intrinsic to fundamental fields. This hypothesis unites fundamental physics with what we know empirically about the neuroscience underlying consciousness, and it bypasses the need to consider quantum effects.