global workspace

Perhaps, consciousness and subjective experience are viewpoint-specific functions in thalamocortical complex {global workspace} [Baars, 1988] [Baars, 1997] [Baars, 2002] [Changeux, 1983] [Dehaene and Naccache, 2001] [Dehaene, 2001] [Dehaene et al., 2003]. Consciousness is shared workspace, representation system, or working memory that communicates with brain modules/agents that perform unconscious functions. Global workspace allows information exchange and coordination.

modules

Brain algorithms get information from global workspace, broadcast their information there, compete and cooperate to place information there, and interact in global workspace to resolve uncertainties in interpretation and action. Unconscious processing is parallel processing and uses large memory.

output

Eventually, global workspace reaches consensus, makes output, and stores representation or will in long-term memory.

consciousness

Attention systems make global workspace contents known to consciousness, so global-workspace information is consciousness contents. Consciousness involves information exchange. Conscious processing integrates unconscious processing.

levels

There can be more or less consciousness, as shown by comparing conscious and unconscious brain processing {contrastive analysis}. Fugue, multiple personality, and depersonalization have amnesia and changed sense of self. Brains have beliefs, goals, and consciousness {self-concept}. Self-concept is consciousness contents. Bodies are agents and perceivers {self-system}. Self-systems have sense qualities, which are fundamental context {deep context} in the context hierarchy. However, sense-quality salience or intensity does not relate to high-level processing. People can have more than one consciousness, rather than one context hierarchy. Even early mammals have senses and brains that can allow consciousness.

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Date Modified: 2022.0224