Consciousness could be the result of an optimization of information processing. How consciousness arises from the organization of matter.
The idea that consciousness could be the result of an optimization of information processing is a hypothesis or theory put forth by some researchers and philosophers. This perspective is often associated with a viewpoint in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science known as “Integrated Information Theory” (IIT), developed by neuroscientist Giulio Tononi.
According to IIT, consciousness arises when a system is capable of both high differentiation (i.e., a large number of distinct informational states) and high integration (i.e., the ability of these states to interact with each other). The theory posits that conscious experiences are the result of the integration of information within a system, and the level of consciousness corresponds to the degree of integrated information.
In other words, IIT suggests that the more interconnected and integrated the information processing within a system, the higher the level of consciousness. This theory attempts to provide a framework for understanding the relationship between the physical processes of the brain and subjective experience.
It’s important to note that the nature of consciousness remains a complex and open question in philosophy and neuroscience, and various theories and hypotheses exist. The idea that consciousness arises from the optimization of information processing is just one perspective, and there is ongoing debate and research in the field.
Researchers continue to explore the neural correlates of consciousness, the role of information processing, and the mechanisms that give rise to subjective experience. While IIT and similar theories offer interesting insights, the ultimate nature of consciousness remains a topic of ongoing exploration and discussion in the scientific and philosophical communities.
It is said that complexity lies between order and disorder. In the case of brain activity and physiology in general, complexity issues are being considered with increased emphasis.
Researchers sought to identify features of brain organization that are optimal for sensory processing, and that may guide the emergence of cognition and consciousness, by analyzing neurophysiological recordings in conscious and unconscious state
Proposed general scheme of the relation between global brain connectivity and behavioral states. Normal alertness resides at the top of the curve representing the number of configurations of connections the system can adopt, or the associated entropy. The maximization of the configurations (microstates) provides the variability in brain activity needed for normal sensorimotor action. Abnormal, or unconscious states, are located farther from the top, and are characterized by either a large or small number of connected networks, therefore exhibiting a lower number of microstates (hence lower entropy) that are not optimal for sensorimotor processing.