Phenomenology and Connectionism

• Main Author: Jeffrey K Yoshimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2011-11-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychology
• Subjects: neural networks; Phenomenology; connectionism; Dynamical Systems Theory; Husserl; Supervenience
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00288/full

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.