Zenith Grant Awardee

Kobi Kremnitzer

University of Oxford

Project Title

Pump priming for a new Centre for Mathematical Approaches to Consciousness at Oxford

Project Summary

Whilst we summarize subjective experience with the single word “consciousness” it turns out that consciousness is actually a very complex phenomenon having a large number of different aspects. Our mathematical approach to consciousness research involves exploring potential links between consciousness and physics and building theory and models of consciousness at multiple brain scales from the scale of quantum mechanics up to whole cortices and brain/system scale. These models of consciousness will model the different aspects of subjective experience such as pure consciousness, qualia, relationship content of consciousness, emotions, level of consciousness, self-awareness, thought processes and attention for example. To do this, a wide range of suitable mathematical approaches will be used including theoretical physics, cutting edge mathematical theories as well as computational simulations. Whether it be establishing the extent of the brain’s dependence on the quantum scale or explaining how the brain defines structural aspects of subjective experience, mathematics is essential. Our vision is to identify and build the productive, useful and verifiable mathematical models of consciousness and to see how these fit together into a general theory of consciousness.

Technical Abstract

The challenge of understanding consciousness can no longer be ignored. Progress requires a formal mathematical understanding of how sentient organisms possess a subjective inner conscious life within a brain comprised of structures at various scales. Our mathematical approach to consciousness research involves exploring potential links between consciousness and physics and building theory and models of consciousness at multiple brain scales from the scale of quantum mechanics up to whole cortices and brain/system scale. These models of consciousness will model different aspects of subjective experience such as pure consciousness, qualia, relationship content of consciousness, emotions, level of consciousness, self-awareness, thought processes and attention for example. To do this, a wide range of suitable mathematical approaches will be used such as theoretical physics/QM, network theory, expected float entropy minimisation, category theory, computational simulations, versions of integrated information theory, predictive coding and AI/machine learning where relevant. Whether it be establishing the extent of the brain’s dependence on the quantum scale or explaining how the brain defines structural aspects of subjective experience, mathematics is essential. Our vision is to identify and build the productive, useful and verifiable mathematical models of consciousness and to see how these fit together into a general theory of consciousness.