An integrative control theory perspective on consciousness.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Mind

Background:

• Existing consciousness theories often overlook how organisms manage unpredictable disturbances.
• Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) explains purposiveness as hierarchical control of perceptual variables against disturbances.
• PCT's reorganization process adapts control systems to reduce error in essential physiological variables.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an integrative account of consciousness building on nonconscious behavior and PCT.
• To explain the emergence and maintenance of primary, secondary (access), and tertiary (self-awareness) consciousness.
• To outline hypotheses and research designs for testing the proposed consciousness model.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework integrating PCT with established theories of consciousness.
• Explanation of consciousness emergence through hierarchical perceptual control and system reorganization.
• Proposal of mechanisms for sustaining secondary consciousness and the development of tertiary consciousness.

Main Results:

• Primary consciousness emerges from PCT's adaptive control systems.
• Secondary consciousness is sustained by regulating information integration, attention, and reorganization rates.
• Tertiary consciousness develops via symbolic representation of internally sustained information.

Conclusions:

• The proposed PCT-based model offers a unified framework for understanding consciousness.
• This account addresses limitations in predictive processing theories by incorporating disturbance management.
• The model provides testable hypotheses for empirical investigation into the nature of consciousness.