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Mirror-induced origination process of human self-consciousness-restructuring consciousness-based cognitive theory
Xiaodong Luo1,2
1The Open University of Sichuan, Chengdu, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 22, 2026
Summary
The origin of self-consciousness in humans may stem from an animal ancestor
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The evolutionary origins of human self-consciousness remain a significant scientific mystery.
- Understanding the transition from animal awareness to human mental self-consciousness (MSC) is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose the Mirror-Induced Origination Hypothesis for the evolution of self-consciousness.
- To provide a natural evolutionary account for the emergence of consciousness and intelligent life.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing cognitive behavioral experiments and a thought experiment.
- Developing a formalized eight-stage model of conscious change: the Mirror-Induced Leap of Consciousness (MLC).
- Defining consciousness via the Consciousness Cognitive Relational Function: C = R(a(p)).
Main Results:
- Repetitive mirror image stimulation may have induced illusory transformations and changes in animal ancestors.
- The principle of percept drift explains how mirror stimulation triggers evolutionary changes in consciousness.
- Empirical support derived from the rubber hand illusion (RHI) experiment.
Conclusions:
- The study offers a new paradigm for the generation, transformation, and definition of consciousness.
- A comprehensive cognitive theoretical framework for consciousness is constructed from an evolutionary perspective.
- This framework integrates hypotheses, experiments, reasoning, evidence, and mathematical models for a unified understanding of cognitive science.
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