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Predictive Neuronal Adaptation as a Basis for Consciousness.

Artur Luczak1, Yoshimasa Kubo1

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Brain evolution may be driven by predicting the future. This study proposes that minimizing surprise in neurons, through predictive adaptation, forms the basis of consciousness and enhances neural network performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • The brain's ability to predict future events and adapt actions is crucial for survival and may explain brain evolution.
  • Consciousness is hypothesized to be linked to predicting the future and detecting surprising discrepancies between actual and expected situations.
  • At the neuronal level, predicting future activity and adapting synaptic inputs is an energy-efficient strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether surprise minimization by single neurons could serve as a fundamental basis for consciousness.
  • To explore the relationship between neuronal surprise, skill acquisition, and human consciousness.
  • To propose a quantifiable model for consciousness based on neuronal adaptation and surprise.

Main Methods:

  • Simulations of neural networks learning new tasks to observe changes in neuronal surprise.
  • Implementation of neuronal activity adaptation to minimize surprise at millisecond timescales.
  • Development of a mathematical equation to quantify consciousness as surprise minus adaptation error.

Main Results:

  • Neuronal surprise dynamics during learning mirrored changes in human skill consciousness in simulations.
  • Adapting neuronal activity to minimize surprise improved neural network performance by enabling more informed responses.
  • The proposed model provides a testable hypothesis linking neuronal adaptation to consciousness.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal predictive adaptation to minimize surprise is proposed as a fundamental building block of conscious processing.
  • This adaptation facilitates information exchange between neurons, enabling the construction of complex predictive models.
  • The hypothesis is consistent with existing theories of consciousness and offers a potential pathway toward a unified theory.