Theories of human consciousness aim to explain how and why we experience subjective awareness—the “what it’s like” to be human, often called phenomenal consciousness. This is a deeply interdisciplinary field, spanning neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and even physics. Below is a concise overview of the major theories of human consciousness, their core ideas, and their implications.

Major Theories of Human Consciousness

1. Global Workspace Theory (GWT)
• Core Idea: Proposed by Bernard Baars, GWT compares consciousness to a theater: a “global workspace” in the brain acts as a stage where information is broadcast to various cognitive processes (e.g., memory, attention, decision-making). Consciousness arises when information is globally accessible, allowing for coordinated action.
• Mechanism: The prefrontal cortex and other brain regions act as the workspace, integrating inputs from sensory areas, memory, and emotions, then broadcasting them to other systems.
• Support: Supported by studies showing that conscious perception correlates with widespread brain activation, as seen in EEG and fMRI scans.
• Critique: GWT explains access consciousness (what we can report or act on) but may not fully address the “hard problem” of why subjective experience exists.

2. Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
• Core Idea: Developed by Giulio Tononi, IIT posits that consciousness corresponds to the level of integrated information in a system, measured by a value called “phi.” A system is conscious if it generates more information as a whole than the sum of its parts.
• Mechanism: In the human brain, areas like the cortex and thalamus integrate information across sensory, motor, and cognitive systems, leading to high phi and thus consciousness.
• Support: Aligns with findings that consciousness correlates with complex neural networks.
• Critique: Phi is hard to measure, and IIT might attribute consciousness to non-intuitive systems.

3. Higher-Order Thought (HOT) Theory
• Core Idea: A mental state becomes conscious when we have a higher-order thought about it—we’re aware that we’re aware.
• Mechanism: The prefrontal cortex generates these higher-order thoughts.
• Support: Explains why automatic processes aren’t conscious.
• Critique: Doesn’t fully explain why higher-order thoughts themselves are conscious (regress problem).

4. Attention Schema Theory (AST)
• Core Idea: Consciousness arises from the brain’s model of attention.
• Mechanism: The brain constructs a simplified “schema” to track attention, and this model creates the feeling of awareness.
• Support: Explains blindsight and attention-related phenomena.
• Critique: Focuses on function, not the subjective “feel”.

5. Multiple Drafts Model (MDM)
• Core Idea: Consciousness is the result of distributed, competing neural processes.
• Mechanism: No central “theatre”; consciousness emerges from the dominant narrative.
• Support: Matches the dynamic, fragmented nature of awareness.
• Critique: Downplays the subjective experience as an illusion.

6. Panpsychism
• Core Idea: Consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe, present in all matter.
• Mechanism: Basic conscious elements combine in complex systems like the brain.
• Support: Avoids the hard problem by making consciousness intrinsic.
• Critique: The “combination problem” — how tiny bits become unified experience.

7. Quantum Theories (Orch-OR)
• Core Idea: Consciousness arises from quantum processes in microtubules.
• Mechanism: Quantum superpositions collapse to produce conscious moments.
• Support: Quantum effects observed in biology.
• Critique: Most neuroscientists say the brain is too warm/wet for quantum coherence.

8. The Hard Problem of Consciousness
David Chalmers: Why do physical processes give rise to subjective experience at all? Most theories solve “easy problems” (function) but struggle with the “hard problem” of why it feels like something.

Implications & Final Thoughts

These theories offer insights into creativity, imagination, and the human-AI gap. While AI can simulate output, it lacks the subjective “what it’s like” that fuels human art and storytelling. Consciousness remains one of the greatest mysteries — and one of the greatest gifts.

May the Quarks Be With You!