Dimensions of Animal Consciousness

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 24(10), С. 789 - 801

Опубликована: Авг. 21, 2020

How does consciousness vary across the animal kingdom? Are some animals 'more conscious' than others? This article presents a multidimensional framework for understanding interspecies variation in states of consciousness. The distinguishes five key dimensions variation: perceptual richness, evaluative integration at time, and self-consciousness. For each dimension, existing experiments that bear on it are reviewed future suggested. By assessing given species against we can construct profile species. On this framework, there is no single scale along which be ranked as more or less conscious. Rather, has its own distinctive profile.

Язык: Английский

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Insects have the capacity for subjective experience

Animal Sentience, Год журнала: 2016, Номер 1(9)

Опубликована: Июль 11, 2016

To what degree are non-human animals conscious? We propose that the most meaningful way to approach this question is from perspective of functional neurobiology. Here we focus on subjective experience, which a basic awareness world without further reflection awareness. This considered form consciousness. Tellingly, capacity supported by integrated midbrain and basal ganglia structures, among oldest highly conserved brain systems in vertebrates. A reasonable inference for experience both widespread evolutionarily old within vertebrate lineage. argue insect supports functions analogous those hence insects may also have experience. discuss features neural can cannot be expected support as well relationship between our arguments based neurobiological mechanism "hard problem" conscious

Язык: Английский

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Minds without spines: Evolutionarily inclusive animal ethics

Animal Sentience, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 5(29)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2020

Invertebrate animals are frequently lumped into a single category and denied welfare protections despite their considerable cognitive, behavioral, evolutionary diversity. Some ethical policy inroads have been made for cephalopod molluscs crustaceans, but the vast majority of arthropods, including insects, remain excluded from moral consideration. We argue that this exclusion is unwarranted given existing evidence. Anachronistic readings evolution, which view invertebrates as lower in scala naturae, continue to influence public common morality. The assumption small brains unlikely support cognition or sentience likewise persists, growing evidence arthropods converged on cognitive functions comparable those found vertebrates. also motivated by cognitive-affective biases covertly judgment, well flawed balancing scientific uncertainty against risk. All these factors shape attitudes toward basal vertebrates too, they particularly acute arthropod context. Moral consistency dictates same standards risk management justify extending consideration certain invertebrates. Moving beyond vertebrate-centered conception can clarify foundational concepts own right.

Язык: Английский

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The search for invertebrate consciousness

Noûs, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 56(1), С. 133 - 153

Опубликована: Авг. 30, 2020

There is no agreement on whether any invertebrates are conscious and a methodology that could settle the issue. How can debate move forward? I distinguish three broad types of approach: theory-heavy, theory-neutral theory-light. Theory-heavy approaches face serious problems, motivating middle path: theory-light approach. At core approach minimal commitment about relation between phenomenal consciousness cognition compatible with many specific theories consciousness: hypothesis phenomenally perception stimulus facilitates, relative to unconscious perception, cluster cognitive abilities in stimulus. This "facilitation hypothesis" productively guide inquiry into invertebrate consciousness. What needed? this stage, not more theory, undirected data gathering. needed systematic search for consciousness-linked abilities, their relationships each other, sensitivity masking.

Язык: Английский

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Animal sentience

Philosophy Compass, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 17(5)

Опубликована: Март 17, 2022

Abstract ‘Sentience’ sometimes refers to the capacity for any type of subjective experience, and have experiences with a positive or negative valence, such as pain pleasure. We review recent controversies regarding sentience in fish invertebrates consider deep methodological challenge posed by these cases. then present two ways responding challenge. In policy‐making context, precautionary thinking can help us treat animals appropriately despite continuing uncertainty about their sentience. scientific we draw inspiration from science human consciousness disentangle conscious unconscious perception (especially vision) animals. Developing better affect is key priority future research.

Язык: Английский

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Plant sentience? Between romanticism and denial: Science

Animal Sentience, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 8(33)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

A growing number of non-human animal species are being seriously considered as candidates for sentience, but plants either forgotten or explicitly excluded from these debates. In our view, this is based on the belief that plant behavior hardwired and inflexible an underestimation role electrophysiology. We weigh such assumptions against evidence to suggest it time take hypothesis plants, too, might be sentient. hope target article will serve invitation investigate sentience in with same rigor animals.

Язык: Английский

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The feasibility of artificial consciousness through the lens of neuroscience

Trends in Neurosciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 46(12), С. 1008 - 1017

Опубликована: Окт. 18, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Thalamic contributions to the state and contents of consciousness

Neuron, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 112(10), С. 1611 - 1625

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Consciousness can be conceptualized as varying along at least two dimensions: the global state of consciousness and content conscious experience. Here, we highlight cellular systems-level contributions thalamus to then argue for thalamic content, including integrated, segregated, continuous nature our We underscore vital, yet distinct roles core- matrix-type neurons. Through reciprocal interactions with deep-layer cortical neurons, matrix neurons support wakefulness determine perceptual thresholds, whereas core maintain enable constancy. further propose that integration, segregation, continuity depend on convergent corticothalamic projections enabling dimensionality reduction, a reticular nucleus-mediated divisive normalization-like process, sustained coherent activity in thalamocortical loops, respectively. Overall, conclude plays central topological role brain structures controlling

Язык: Английский

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Unconscious Perception Reconsidered

Analytic Philosophy, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 59(4), С. 471 - 514

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2018

Язык: Английский

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Hard criteria for empirical theories of consciousness

Cognitive Neuroscience, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 12(2), С. 41 - 62

Опубликована: Июль 14, 2020

Consciousness is now a well-established field of empirical research. A large body experimental results has been accumulated and steadily growing. In parallel, many Theories (ToCs) have proposed. These theories are diverse in nature, ranging from computational to neurophysiological quantum theoretical approaches. This contrasts with other fields natural science, which host smaller number competing theories. We suggest that one reason for this abundance extremely different may be the lack stringent criteria specifying how data constrains ToCs. First, we argue consciousness well-defined topic an point view motivate purely stance on quest consciousness. Second, present checklist that, propose, ToCs need cope with. Third, review 13 most influential subject them criteria. Our analysis helps situate these landscapeand sheds light their strengths weaknesses strictly view.

Язык: Английский

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