Afference copy as a quantitative neurophysiological model for consciousness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Philosophy of Mind

Background:

• Consciousness is a complex phenomenon with a long history of philosophical debate.
• Viewing consciousness as a necessary process of the vertebrate nervous system simplifies its understanding.
• Existing explanations often struggle with the subjective nature of conscious experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a physiological model for consciousness.
• To explain the "explanatory gap" in conscious perception.
• To elucidate the role of afference copy in generating subjective experience.

Main Methods:

• Development of a schematic model for consciousness.
• Utilizing the concept of "afference copy" to bridge the explanatory gap.
• Reviewing psychological and neurophysiological findings to contextualize the model.

Main Results:

• A physiological "explanatory gap" is created by neuronal activity's temporal requirements.
• Consciously experienced percepts are fabricated using "afference copy", memory, and stimuli.
• Percepts predict subjective conscious experience during the gap period.

Conclusions:

• Consciousness is supported by neural circuitry derived from reflexive learning and recall.
• The proposed model offers a framework for understanding the generation of subjective conscious experience.
• Further implications for neuroscience and philosophy are discussed.