The projective wave theory of consciousness

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new theory suggesting that consciousness arises from a wave in the thalamus, not from neural computation alone.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel projective wave theory of consciousness based on an undetected wave excitation in the thalamus.

Findings

Consciousness may arise from a wave excitation in the thalamus, not encoded neural information.

There is indirect evidence for such a wave in the mammalian thalamus and insect brain.

The theory avoids the decoding problem and offers a potential explanation for the evolution of consciousness.

Abstract

Many theories of consciousness propose that consciousness arises from neural computation in the brain. All information in a neural computer is physically encoded, but consciousness contains un-encoded information about local space. The information required for decoding does not reside in the brain. So consciousness cannot arise from encoded neural information; but it could arise from un-encoded information, such as an analogue model of local 3-D space. This paper proposes that the mammalian brain holds an analogue model of 3-D space, as a wave excitation in the thalamus. The wave stores information in a Fourier transform of space, like a hologram. Neurons couple to the wave, and the wave is the source of consciousness. Such a wave has not been detected in the brain; but there are reasons why it has not yet been detected, and there are reasons for a wave to have evolved. There is indirect evidence for a wave in the mammalian thalamus, and in the central body of the insect brain. This paper is an initial conceptual outline of a projective wave theory of consciousness, in which phenomenal consciousness arises solely from a wave excitation in the thalamus. Neuronal activity maintains the wave, but has no direct link to consciousness. Such a theory is capable of agreeing well with the spatial form of our conscious experience. It avoids the decoding problem of neural theories of consciousness, and has the potential for a positive Bayesian balance between the complexity of its assumptions and the data it fits; this is reason to investigate it further. The theory would explain why consciousness evolved, and be falsifiable. Many details of the theory remain to be worked out.

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