2014/05/01 by Phil Maguire, Philippe Moser, Maguire, Phil +5 · 1 voice
Computer Science · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Computability, Logic, AI Algorithms #Neural dynamics and brain function #Philosophy and Theoretical Science #cs.IT #q-bio.NC
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1405.0126
openalex publication_date 2014/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this article we review Tononi's (2008) theory of consciousness as integrated information. We argue that previous formalizations of integrated information (e.g. Griffith, 2014) depend on information loss. Since lossy integration would necessitate continuous damage to existing memories, we propose it is more natural to frame consciousness as a lossless integrative process and provide a formalization of this idea using algorithmic information theory. We prove that complete lossless integration requires noncomputable functions. This result implies that if unitary consciousness exists, it cannot be modelled computationally.