Physical integration: A causal account for consciousness.

Abstract

The issue of integration in neural networks is intimately connected with that of consciousness. In this paper, integration as an e®ective level of physical organization is contrasted with a methodological integrative approach. Understanding how consciousness arises out of neural processes requires a model of integration in just causal physical terms. Based on a set of feasible criteria (physical grounding, causal efficacy, no circularity and scaling), a causal account of physical integration for consciousness centered on joint causation is outlined.