Biology

Consciousness

Consciousness remains the hardest problem in science. How does subjective experience arise from objective matter? Integrated Information Theory (IIT) proposes that consciousness corresponds to integrated information (Φ) — the degree to which a system is both differentiated and unified. The Global Workspace Theory suggests consciousness emerges when information is broadcast widely across cortical networks. Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) goes further, proposing that quantum computations in microtubules within neurons give rise to conscious moments.