Core Viewpoint - The article explores the complex phenomenon of consciousness from various interdisciplinary perspectives, aiming to connect different theories and establish a computational framework for understanding consciousness and its implications for artificial intelligence [2][9]. Group 1: Introduction and Definition of Consciousness - Consciousness is defined as a multifaceted concept involving awareness, wakefulness, and subjective experience, with distinctions made between these related but different concepts [7][16]. - The article emphasizes the importance and difficulty of understanding human consciousness, aiming to engage various research communities in this exploration [7][8]. Group 2: Theoretical Frameworks - The article outlines several influential theories of consciousness, including Information Integration Theory (IIT), Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory (Orch OR), Global Workspace Theory (GWT), High-Order Theories (HOT), Attention Schema Theory (AST), and Conscious Turing Machine (CTM) [8][38]. - IIT posits that consciousness corresponds to the ability of a system to integrate information, with a focus on the causal power of the system [42][46]. Group 3: Measurement of Consciousness - Recent research has developed effective methods for measuring human consciousness, including indices based on electrical signals and behavioral assessments [18][19]. - The Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI) is highlighted as a significant measure for distinguishing between conscious and unconscious states [19][20]. Group 4: Consciousness and Intelligence - The article discusses the distinction between consciousness and intelligence, noting that consciousness is often considered more mysterious and difficult to measure than intelligence [22][23]. - The relationship between consciousness and free will is explored, with ongoing debates about the existence of true free will and its connection to consciousness [28][29]. Group 5: Sleep and Consciousness - The article examines consciousness during sleep, noting that different sleep stages (REM and NREM) exhibit varying levels of awareness and perception [35][36]. - Information Integration Theory suggests that consciousness diminishes during deep sleep due to reduced integration of brain activity [36][37]. Group 6: Biological Evidence and Theories - The article discusses biological evidence supporting the theories of consciousness, particularly the role of the brain's cortical areas in information integration [49]. - The Orch OR theory is presented as a hypothesis linking consciousness to quantum processes, suggesting that true randomness may be necessary for free will [65].

Core Insights - The article discusses a significant bet between philosopher David Chalmers and neuroscientist Christof Koch regarding the understanding of consciousness, which Chalmers won after 25 years, indicating that science has not yet pinpointed a "center" of consciousness in the brain [1] - The research collaboration known as "COGITATE" compared two leading theories of consciousness: the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) and the Integrated Information Theory (IIT), aiming to find evidence that could support one theory over the other [2][3] - The results of the COGITATE study revealed that neither theory was definitively proven or disproven, highlighting the complexity of consciousness research and the importance of diverse theoretical perspectives [4][6] Group 1 - COGITATE aimed to test predictions related to conscious perception by analyzing brain activity during visual stimuli presentations, with GNWT predicting significant activity in the frontal regions and IIT predicting sustained activity in the posterior hot zone [3] - The study's findings contradicted both theories in key areas, such as the lack of sustained neural synchrony in the posterior hot zone and the absence of a "closure response" in the working memory regions when conscious perception ceased [5] - The research emphasized the value of "open science" principles, including pre-registration of predictions and independent data collection, which enhances the reliability and transparency of scientific findings [5] Group 2 - The article suggests that significant shifts in scientific understanding are slow, and even when experimental results do not align with predictions, they can still contribute to the advancement of knowledge [6] - The COGITATE project serves as a model for large-scale collaborative research, demonstrating the benefits of adversarial collaboration in scientific inquiry [7] - The ongoing debate regarding the status of IIT as a scientific theory reflects the broader challenges in the field of consciousness studies, underscoring the importance of rigorous experimental frameworks [8]