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Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC)
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Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC)

A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Complexity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2023) | Viewed by 10915

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Georg Northoff

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre 1145 Carling Avenue, Rm. 6435, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada
Interests: brain-mind relationship; self; consciousness; emotions; psychiatric and mental disorders
Dr. Federico Zilio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Piazza Capitaniato, 3 - 35139 Padua, Italy
Interests: consciousness; disorders of consciousness; world-body-brain relationship; neuroethics; neurophenomenology; 4E cognition; brain-computer interface

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Consciousness is a key feature of our mental life. Various theories of consciousness have been suggested in both philosophy and neuroscience. On the neuroscientific side, we are confronted with a diverse landscape of different theories such as IIT, GNWT, predictive coding, HOT, and RPT, just to name a few. This leaves open the quest for a unifying framework within which a theory and a model of consciousness can be developed. One such unifying framework is suggested by the temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). The TTC proposes that consciousness is a spatio-temporal phenomenon based on the brain’s construction of its own inner time and space relative to the outer time–space of the body and the environment. This is supported empirically by a wide range of evidence for four key temporo-spatial mechanisms: temporo-spatial nestedness, alignment, expansion, and globalization. Theoretically, this is supported by the development of spatiotemporal ontology, which emphasizes spatiotemporal relation as the basic unit of existence and reality.

This research topic relates to the TTC and its different aspects. For this Special Issue, we invite contributions that discuss, compare, and extend the empirical and theoretical framework of TTC. We welcome papers focusing on the following:

  • Empirical evidence supporting the four different neuronal mechanisms;
  • Linking neuronal and phenomenal features along the lines of the TTC temporo-spatial framework;
  • Empirical and theoretical comparison of TTC and other theories, including the possibility of TTC providing an overarching unifying framework;
  • Combined empirical and theoretical approaches—i.e., non-reductive neurophilosophical approaches to the more philosophical issues of TTC within the current landscape of phenomenology and philosophy of mind.

Prof. Dr. Georg Northoff
Dr. Federico Zilio
Guest Editors

Mr. Andrea Buccellato
Assistant Guest Editor
Affiliation: Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC) – University of Padua, Via Giuseppe Orus, 2, 35131 Padova, PD, Italy
Website: https://pnc.unipd.it/phd-students/
E-Mail: [email protected]
Interests: consciousness; disorders of consciousness; computational neuroscience; complexity; phenomenal experience

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Entropy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • consciousness
  • temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC)
  • temporo-spatial nestedness
  • temporo-spatial alignment
  • temporo-spatial alignment expansion
  • temporo-spatial alignment globalization
  • unifying framework
  • neuronal mechanisms of consciousness
  • neurophenomenal mechanisms
  • neurophilosophy
  • phenomenology
  • philosophy of mind

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5866 KiB  
Article
Temporal Properties of Self-Prioritization
by Zhuoen Lu, Xun He, Dewei Yi and Jie Sui
Entropy 2024, 26(3), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26030242 - 9 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1035
Abstract
Using electroencephalogram (EEG), we tested the hypothesis that the association of a neutral stimulus with the self would elicit ultra-fast neural responses from early top-down feedback modulation to late feedforward periods for cognitive processing, resulting in self-prioritization in information processing. In two experiments, [...] Read more.
Using electroencephalogram (EEG), we tested the hypothesis that the association of a neutral stimulus with the self would elicit ultra-fast neural responses from early top-down feedback modulation to late feedforward periods for cognitive processing, resulting in self-prioritization in information processing. In two experiments, participants first learned three associations between personal labels (self, friend, stranger) and geometric shapes (Experiment 1) and three colors (Experiment 2), and then they judged whether the shape/color–label pairings matched. Stimuli in Experiment 2 were shown in a social communicative setting with two avatars facing each other, one aligned with the participant’s view (first-person perspective) and the other with a third-person perspective. The color was present on the t-shirt of one avatar. This setup allowed for an examination of how social contexts (i.e., perspective taking) affect neural connectivity mediating self-related processing. Functional connectivity analyses in the alpha band (8–12 Hz) revealed that self–other discrimination was mediated by two distinct phases of neural couplings between frontal and occipital regions, involving an early phase of top-down feedback modulation from frontal to occipital areas followed by a later phase of feedforward signaling from occipital to frontal regions. Moreover, while social communicative settings influenced the later feedforward connectivity phase, they did not alter the early feedback coupling. The results indicate that regardless of stimulus type and social context, the early phase of neural connectivity represents an enhanced state of awareness towards self-related stimuli, whereas the later phase of neural connectivity may be associated with cognitive processing of socially meaningful stimuli. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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13 pages, 2097 KiB  
Article
A Mechanistic Model of Perceptual Binding Predicts That Binding Mechanism Is Robust against Noise
by Pavel Kraikivski
Entropy 2024, 26(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26020133 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 694
Abstract
The concept of the brain’s own time and space is central to many models and theories that aim to explain how the brain generates consciousness. For example, the temporo-spatial theory of consciousness postulates that the brain implements its own inner time and space [...] Read more.
The concept of the brain’s own time and space is central to many models and theories that aim to explain how the brain generates consciousness. For example, the temporo-spatial theory of consciousness postulates that the brain implements its own inner time and space for conscious processing of the outside world. Furthermore, our perception and cognition of time and space can be different from actual time and space. This study presents a mechanistic model of mutually connected processes that encode phenomenal representations of space and time. The model is used to elaborate the binding mechanism between two sets of processes representing internal space and time, respectively. Further, a stochastic version of the model is developed to investigate the interplay between binding strength and noise. Spectral entropy is used to characterize noise effects on the systems of interacting processes when the binding strength between them is varied. The stochastic modeling results reveal that the spectral entropy values for strongly bound systems are similar to those for weakly bound or even decoupled systems. Thus, the analysis performed in this study allows us to conclude that the binding mechanism is noise-resilient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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18 pages, 1826 KiB  
Article
Probing Intrinsic Neural Timescales in EEG with an Information-Theory Inspired Approach: Permutation Entropy Time Delay Estimation (PE-TD)
by Andrea Buccellato, Yasir Çatal, Patrizia Bisiacchi, Di Zang, Federico Zilio, Zhe Wang, Zengxin Qi, Ruizhe Zheng, Zeyu Xu, Xuehai Wu, Alessandra Del Felice, Ying Mao and Georg Northoff
Entropy 2023, 25(7), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/e25071086 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1210
Abstract
Time delays are a signature of many physical systems, including the brain, and considerably shape their dynamics; moreover, they play a key role in consciousness, as postulated by the temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). However, they are often not known a priori and [...] Read more.
Time delays are a signature of many physical systems, including the brain, and considerably shape their dynamics; moreover, they play a key role in consciousness, as postulated by the temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). However, they are often not known a priori and need to be estimated from time series. In this study, we propose the use of permutation entropy (PE) to estimate time delays from neural time series as a more robust alternative to the widely used autocorrelation window (ACW). In the first part, we demonstrate the validity of this approach on synthetic neural data, and we show its resistance to regimes of nonstationarity in time series. Mirroring yet another example of comparable behavior between different nonlinear systems, permutation entropy–time delay estimation (PE-TD) is also able to measure intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) (temporal windows of neural activity at rest) from hd-EEG human data; additionally, this replication extends to the abnormal prolongation of INT values in disorders of consciousness (DoCs). Surprisingly, the correlation between ACW-0 and PE-TD decreases in a state-dependent manner when consciousness is lost, hinting at potential different regimes of nonstationarity and nonlinearity in conscious/unconscious states, consistent with many current theoretical frameworks on consciousness. In summary, we demonstrate the validity of PE-TD as a tool to extract relevant time scales from neural data; furthermore, given the divergence between ACW and PE-TD specific to DoC subjects, we hint at its potential use for the characterization of conscious states. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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Review

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21 pages, 778 KiB  
Review
Mental Gravity: Depression as Spacetime Curvature of the Self, Mind, and Brain
by Lachlan Kent
Entropy 2023, 25(9), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/e25091275 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3207
Abstract
The principle of mental gravity contends that the mind uses physical gravity as a mental model or simulacrum to express the relation between the inner self and the outer world in terms of “UP”-ness and “DOWN”-ness. The simulation of increased gravity characterises a [...] Read more.
The principle of mental gravity contends that the mind uses physical gravity as a mental model or simulacrum to express the relation between the inner self and the outer world in terms of “UP”-ness and “DOWN”-ness. The simulation of increased gravity characterises a continuum of mental gravity which states includes depression as the paradigmatic example of being down, low, heavy, and slow. The physics of gravity can also be used to model spacetime curvature in depression, particularly gravitational time dilation as a property of MG analogous to subjective time dilation (i.e., the slowing of temporal flow in conscious experience). The principle has profound implications for the Temporo-spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) with regard to temporo-spatial alignment that establishes a “world-brain relation” that is centred on embodiment and the socialisation of conscious states. The principle of mental gravity provides the TTC with a way to incorporate the structure of the world into the structure of the brain, conscious experience, and thought. In concert with other theories of cognitive and neurobiological spacetime, the TTC can also work towards the “common currency” approach that also potentially connects the TTC to predictive processing frameworks such as free energy, neuronal gauge theories, and active inference accounts of depression. It gives the up/down dimension of space, as defined by the gravitational field, a unique status that is connected to both our embodied interaction with the physical world, and also the inverse, reflective, emotional but still embodied experience of ourselves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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16 pages, 6816 KiB  
Review
Temporospatial Nestedness in Consciousness: An Updated Perspective on the Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness
by Zirui Huang
Entropy 2023, 25(7), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/e25071074 - 17 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1321
Abstract
Time and space are fundamental elements that permeate the fabric of nature, and their significance in relation to neural activity and consciousness remains a compelling yet unexplored area of research. The Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) provides a framework that links time, space, [...] Read more.
Time and space are fundamental elements that permeate the fabric of nature, and their significance in relation to neural activity and consciousness remains a compelling yet unexplored area of research. The Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) provides a framework that links time, space, neural activity, and consciousness, shedding light on the intricate relationships among these dimensions. In this review, I revisit the fundamental concepts and mechanisms proposed by the TTC, with a particular focus on the central concept of temporospatial nestedness. I propose an extension of temporospatial nestedness by incorporating the nested relationship between the temporal circuit and functional geometry of the brain. To further unravel the complexities of temporospatial nestedness, future research directions should emphasize the characterization of functional geometry and the temporal circuit across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Investigating the links between these scales will yield a more comprehensive understanding of how spatial organization and temporal dynamics contribute to conscious states. This integrative approach holds the potential to uncover novel insights into the neural basis of consciousness and reshape our understanding of the world–brain dynamic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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18 pages, 1458 KiB  
Review
Entropy and Cross-Level Orderliness in Light of the Interconnection between the Neural System and Consciousness
by Ilya A. Kanaev
Entropy 2023, 25(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/e25030418 - 25 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1735
Abstract
Despite recent advances, the origin and utility of consciousness remains under debate. Using an evolutionary perspective on the origin of consciousness, this review elaborates on the promising theoretical background suggested in the temporospatial theory of consciousness, which outlines world-brain alignment as a critical [...] Read more.
Despite recent advances, the origin and utility of consciousness remains under debate. Using an evolutionary perspective on the origin of consciousness, this review elaborates on the promising theoretical background suggested in the temporospatial theory of consciousness, which outlines world-brain alignment as a critical predisposition for controlling behavior and adaptation. Such a system can be evolutionarily effective only if it can provide instant cohesion between the subsystems, which is possible only if it performs an intrinsic activity modified in light of the incoming stimulation. One can assume that the world-brain interaction results in a particular interference pattern predetermined by connectome complexity. This is what organisms experience as their exclusive subjective state, allowing the anticipation of regularities in the environment. Thus, an anticipative system can emerge only in a regular environment, which guides natural selection by reinforcing corresponding reactions and decreasing the system entropy. Subsequent evolution requires complicated, layered structures and can be traced from simple organisms to human consciousness and society. This allows us to consider the mode of entropy as a subject of natural evolution rather than an individual entity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Temporo-Spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC))
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