Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Theories and measures of consciousness: an extended framework
Anil K Seth1, Eugene Izhikevich, George N Reeke
1Neurosciences Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Abstract:
A recent theoretical emphasis on complex interactions within neural systems underlying consciousness has been accompanied by proposals for the quantitative characterization of these interactions. In this article, we distinguish key aspects of consciousness that are amenable to quantitative measurement from those that are not. We carry out a formal analysis of the strengths and limitations of three quantitative measures of dynamical complexity in the neural systems underlying consciousness: neural complexity, information integration, and causal density. We find that no single measure fully captures the multidimensional complexity of these systems, and all of these measures have practical limitations. Our analysis suggests guidelines for the specification of alternative measures which, in combination, may improve the quantitative characterization of conscious neural systems. Given that some aspects of consciousness are likely to resist quantification altogether, we conclude that a satisfactory theory is likely to be one that combines both qualitative and quantitative elements.
Related Concept Videos
Understanding Consciousness
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced physical...
Understanding Self-Concept
Reason and Intuition
Dreaming
Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Subconsciousness and No Awareness
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...

