title: Information integration based predictions about the conscious states of a spiking neural network.
abstract: This paper describes how Tononi's information integration theory of consciousness was used to make detailed predictions about the distribution of phenomenal states in a spiking neural network. This network had approximately 18,000 neurons and 700,000 connections and it used models of emotion and imagination to control the eye movements of a virtual robot and avoid 'negative' stimuli. The first stage in the analysis was the development of a formal definition of Tononi's theory of consciousness. The network was then analysed for information integration and detailed predictions were made about the distribution of consciousness for each time step of recorded activity. This work demonstrates how an artificial system can be analysed for consciousness using a particular theory and in the future this approach could be used to make predictions about the phenomenal states associated with biological systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College, London, UK. david@davidgamez.eu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gamez
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007257:Information Theory; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics; D014584:User-Computer Interface