Mathematicians are looking to use the Integrated Information Theory model to decode consciousness and argue that even the universe knows how to think.
Scientists have long shown us the extraordinary power of mathematics. Only with the right numbers and models, they can predict natural phenomena with incredible accuracy, from the motion of the planets, the activity of the elementary particles to the consequences of the middle collision. two black holes billions of light years away.
Not only that, mathematicians are still expecting to solve the conundrum but other sciences have not found the right answer: How does matter produce consciousness?
Does the universe know how to think like a human brain? Photo: New Scienceist.
“This could be the beginning of a scientific revolution,” said Julian Kleiner, a mathematician working at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (Germany) in New Scienceist.
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) uses the function Φ as a measure of information in a system, whether it’s the brain region, the circuit, or the atom.
Measurements value indicates the level of consciousness of the object. For example, the cerebral cortex is valuable because it contains dense nerve cells with complex bonds. The simpler the system, the lower the số number.
From there, if the IIT theory is right, when calculating the correct model, we have to admit the fact that not only the human brain or the living creatures, every inanimate thing has consciousness, even the vast universe. .
However, right after the introduction of Integrated Information Theory, the calculation of Φ was controversial in the research circles. New Scientist thinks that calculating Φ of the human brain takes longer than the existence of the universe.
In a scientific paper just published in February 2020 and awaiting evaluation from other math experts, the author of IIT tried to simplify this process.
Many scholars still do not believe in Integrated Information Theory, partly because of its complexity, but mainly due to the far-reaching implications of the “conscious universe” problem.
“I think mathematics can help us understand the neural basis of consciousness in the brain and even mechanical consciousness, but it is impossible to have a sense of human experience,” said Susan Schneider, a philosopher and cognitive sciences working at the University of Connecticut.
