Coherence Definition of Consciousness

Von der Malsburg's concept, adopted by the paper, that consciousness is a coherence-maximizing pattern minimizing constraint violations between simultaneous partial models

Neighborhood — ranked by edge-count

Thinkers (1)

thinker

Christoph von der Malsburg
introduces
Neuroscientist whose coherence theory is the direct intellectual foundation for CIMC's coherence hypothesis

Claims (1)

claim

Consciousness functions as a coherence-maximizing pattern, minimizing constraint violations between simultaneously active partial models of reality in working memory and perceptual space.
implements
Paper's functional definition of consciousness, based on von der Malsburg's coherence definition

Frameworks (2)

framework

Conductor Theory of Consciousness
extends
The paper's model that conscious directed attention functions as a conductor of the mental orchestra, resolving incoherence between partial models
Adaptive Resonance Theory
analogous_to
Grossberg's neural model of coherence-increasing representations; cited as similar to coherence definition

probe (1)

probe

Awakening in dimly lit room reconstruction probe
grounds
Used to illustrate the conductor theory and coherence definition of consciousness experientially

Related by similarity (8)

cosine ≥ 0.65 · no typed edge

Entities in the same semantic neighborhood but without a typed relation to this one — candidates for new edges or unrecognized duplicates.

Coherenceconcept0.852
A property that makes a segment of space stand out as a center; determined by symmetry, connectedness, convexity, etc.
Consciousness (phenomenal consciousness)concept0.820
The state of having subjective experiences; there is something it is like to be the subject.
Consciousnessconcept0.802
Core concept: capacity to experience as a subject; argued to be substrate-independent and achievable across diverse biological systems.
Consciousness (con-scire)concept0.792
Formulated as shareable knowledge (con: together; scire: to know); associated with inference over counterfactual models
Consciousness as Continuumconcept0.767
TAME posits that consciousness comes in degrees and kinds, not binary, and is tied to goal-directed activity.
Consciousness is not the global broadcast itself but the second-order perception that orchestrates coherence across representations competing for and achieving global accessclaim0.765
CIMC's differentiation of its account from GWT: it explains the dynamics underlying GWT rather than equating consciousness with broadcast
Consciousness, phenomenologically understood, is second-order perception: not just registration of content, but the additional perception that perception is taking place.claim0.762
Paper's core phenomenological definition of consciousness
Coherence Maximizationconcept0.757
The functional role consciousness plays: minimizing constraint violations between simultaneously active partial models of reality