Information Integration in Nested Observer Windows (NOW): A Theory of Hierarchical Consciousness
Presented by: Jonathan Schooler, BA, MS, Ph.D.
Subjective experience is often conceptualized as a monologue, and yet it is commonplace to experience conflicting thoughts. In our model of consciousness, we assert that the mind is a dialogue, or debate, between different desires and unique interpretations of events. Ownership is often assigned to our thoughts, and yet our thoughts often emerge, fully-formed, without an obvious point of origin. When we will ourselves to act, the command is sometimes initiated and sometimes met with resistance. Thus, an honest portrayal of our mind is a collaborative enterprise, and this corporation supervises a workforce of experts who operate autonomously, each dedicated to a specific craft.
In this light, we propose the Nested Observer Windows (NOW) Model, a framework by which information is integrated in a nested hierarchy of observers. First, observer windows are created via synchrony and integrate information over discrete periods, which sets the pace of subjective time. Second, observer windows form functional networks with their neighbors via coherence, and a dialogue between cognitive streams unfolds. Third, observer windows are nested such that each is composed of sub-windows and information is integrated in a recursive mosaic tiling schema. Streams of information traveling bottom-up are bound into abstract representations and top-down streams disseminate control signals via cross-frequency coupling. A nested hierarchical structure accounts for the richness of perception and how simple internal commands generate complex behavior. The theoretical framework of the NOW Model generates testable predictions for the interdisciplinary study of information integration in cognition.