Towards a latent space cartography of subjective experience in mental health

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 8, 2025

The way that individuals subjectively experience the world greatly influences their own mental well-being. However, it remains a considerable challenge to precisely characterize breadth and depth of such experiences. One persistent problem is lack objective tools for directly quantifying comparing narrative reports subjective Here, we develop new approach map compare using latent space artificial neural networks. Using series 31 prompts, including 30 images one open-ended question, quantified how verbal provided by participants (n = 210, 50% female) deviate from another these variations are linked health. We found embeddings can accurately predict judgments valence arousal in emotional pictures. Furthermore, show ambiguous transdiagnostic factors While distortions networks notoriously difficult interpret, propose synthesize visual stimuli with generative intelligence be used explore semantic reported In sum, cartography could offer promising avenue objectively health ultimately help identify therapeutic targets clinical interventions.

Language: Английский

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Introspective psychophysics for the study of subjective experience

Cerebral Cortex, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 21, 2024

Abstract Studying subjective experience is hard. We believe that pain not identical to nociception, nor pleasure a computational reward signal, fear the activation of “threat circuitry”. Unfortunately, introspective self-reports offer our best bet for accessing experience, but many still introspection “unreliable” and “unverifiable”. But which introspection’s faults do we find most damning? Is it provides imperfect access brain processes (e.g. perception, memory)? That objectively verifiable? hard isolate from non-subjective processing capacity? Here, I argue none these prevents us building meaningful, impactful psychophysical research program treats as valid empirical target through precisely characterizing relationships among environmental variables, behavior, self-reported phenomenology. Following recent similar calls by Peters (Towards canonical computations generating phenomenal experience. 2022. Neurosci Biobehav Rev: 142, 104903), Kammerer Frankish (What forms could systems take? A programme. 2023. J Conscious Stud 30:13–48), Fleming (Metacognitive psychophysics in humans, animals, AI. 30:113–128), “introspective psychophysics” thus apparent features, bugs—just noise distortions linking environment behavior inspired Fechner’s over 150 years ago. This next generation will establish powerful tool testing precise explanatory models phenomenology across dimensions—urgency, emotion, clarity, vividness, confidence, more.

Language: Английский

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The Qualia Structure Paradigm: towards a construction of a Qualia Periodic Table for the dissolution of the Hard Problem of Consciousness

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

The nature of the relationships between qualitative aspects consciousness, or qualia, and their physical substrates remains unclear. problem qualia is one biggest challenges among enigmas consciousness. One difficulty in research characterization qualia. Verbal descriptions simple behavioral responses are unable to capture richness dilemma faced by traditional NCC paradigm. Comparing a quale with another quale, however, not difficult. Such relational but now structural context, underlies core Qualia Structure This new paradigm was inspired category theory, particular, Yoneda lemma, which states that an object characterized its all objects category. Inspired proposes pathway characterize organize properties different one. As result, it aspires reach organizing principle, akin Mendeleevian periodic table, for domains substrates. Under this framework, any valid theories consciousness should link two structure-preserving manner. Successful refinement such will lead “natural” these theories. level specification understanding relations would dissolve Hard Problem current form.

Language: Английский

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Understanding the qualitative nature of human consciousness

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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How does the quality space come to be?

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Beyond Accommodation: on the Structural Turn in Computational Functionalist Theories of Consciousness

Published: Nov. 25, 2024

This commentary engages with Fleming and Shea's (2024) recent work on computational functionalist theories of consciousness through a structural lens. We address three key aspects: the role subjective experience in theory building, hypothesis regarding local lateral connectivity sensory areas, implications "silent units" for consciousness. argue that while their turn is welcome, many insights were previously predicted by Integrated Information Theory (IIT). question coherence these claims within paradigm emphasize importance distinguishing genuine predictions from post-hoc accommodations science.

Language: Английский

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Empirical approaches to determining quality space computations for consciousness: a response to Dołęga et al. and Song

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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