Phenomenology and Connectionism

Abstract

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I show how the dynamics of consciousness can be formally derived from the open dynamics of neural activity, and develop a mathematical framework for neuro-phenomenological investigation. I describe the space of possible brain states, the space of possible conscious states, and a supervenience function linking them. I show how this framework can be used to associate phenomenological structures with neuro-computational structures, and vice-versa. I pay special attention to the relationship between (1) the relatively fast dynamics of consciousness and neural activity, and (2) the slower dynamics of knowledge update and brain development.

Keywords

• neural networks
• Phenomenology
• connectionism
• Dynamical Systems Theory
• Husserl
• Supervenience