Lecture Overview

There remains a significant explanatory gap between the physical processes of neural activity and the subjective experience of consciousness—commonly referred to as the hard problem of consciousness. This refers to the idea that no matter how deeply we analyze the brain from a reductionist perspective, it fails to explain why or how subjective experiences arise from brain processes.

One theoretical framework that attempts to bridge this gap is Integrated Information Theory (IIT), proposed by Tononi et al. (2016).

IIT seeks to formalize the features of consciousness from a phenomenological standpoint and interprets consciousness as a structure of information. It further posits that the quantity and patterns of integrated information in the brain correspond to the intensity and quality of conscious experience.

In this lecture, Dr. Onoda will explain the fundamental concepts of Integrated Information Theory and present fMRI research examining how integrated information changes in states of consciousness loss—such as during anesthesia or sleep.