Hasil untuk "Consciousness. Cognition"

R. Merton, M. Lowenthal, P. Kendall

Gary E. Schwartz, D. Shapiro, R. Davidson

P. Uhlhaas, C. Haenschel, D. Nikolić et al.

Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, K. Andrade, L. F. Tófoli et al.

The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition induced by this class of drugs. A remarkable increase in introspection is at the core of these altered states of consciousness. Self-oriented mental activity has been consistently linked to the Default Mode Network (DMN), a set of brain regions more active during rest than during the execution of a goal-directed task. Here we used fMRI technique to inspect the DMN during the psychedelic state induced by Ayahuasca in ten experienced subjects. Ayahuasca is a potion traditionally used by Amazonian Amerindians composed by a mixture of compounds that increase monoaminergic transmission. In particular, we examined whether Ayahuasca changes the activity and connectivity of the DMN and the connection between the DMN and the task-positive network (TPN). Ayahuasca caused a significant decrease in activity through most parts of the DMN, including its most consistent hubs: the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC)/Precuneus and the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC). Functional connectivity within the PCC/Precuneus decreased after Ayahuasca intake. No significant change was observed in the DMN-TPN orthogonality. Altogether, our results support the notion that the altered state of consciousness induced by Ayahuasca, like those induced by psilocybin (another serotonergic psychedelic), meditation and sleep, is linked to the modulation of the activity and the connectivity of the DMN.

Renaud Gauthier

We provide two representations of the Segal category $\mathcal{X}$ modeling natural phenomena, the first one being based on the concept of micro-reversibility, producing a long sequence $Σ$ of categories as a resolution of $\mathcal{X}$, the second one providing graded categories cofibered in groupoids over the categories of $Σ$, using the concept of consciousness as impetus. We show those two representations are dual to each other.

Amin Azadian, Alexandra Protopopova

Abstract Selective breeding for specialized functional roles has resulted in consistent differences among domestic dog breeds in a range of cognitive capacities, as demonstrated by standardized cognitive assessments. What remains uncertain is whether these breed differences extend beyond initial task performance to influence how dogs adjust their behaviour or improve their performance when they are re-tested on the same tasks. In the present study, we used a structured hand-touch learning task to examine changes in Discrimination, Reversal learning, and resistance to Extinction performances across two testing sessions in 105 dogs representing five breed clades. Statistical analyses accounted for demographic variables, reward responsiveness, impulsivity, and training history. Dogs showed limited changes in learning performance across sessions, with statistically significant improvement observed only in Reversal learning from Test 1 to Test 2. Most breed-clade differences in average performance found during the initial test were no longer evident at Test 2. There was also limited evidence that breed clades differed in the extent of their performance change over time. Taken together, these results suggest that initial performance differences across breed clades likely reflect breed-specific cognitive profiles that shape how dogs engage with novel learning tasks. Following re-exposure to the task, average performance tends to improve and potentially mask the initial between-clade differences, although the magnitude of improvement appears broadly similar across breed clades. These findings highlight the importance of considering both initial performance and prior experience when interpreting breed differences in learning and cognitive capacities.

K. Oatley

Hassan Ugail, Newton Howard

Quantifying the neural signatures of consciousness remains a major challenge in neuroscience and AI. Although many theories link consciousness to rich, multiscale, and flexible neural organisation, robust quantitative measures are still lacking. This paper presents a theory-neutral framework that characterises consciousness-related dynamics through three properties: hierarchical integration (H), cross-frequency complexity (D), and metastability (M). Candidate subsystems are identified using predictive information, temporal complexity, and state-space exploration to distinguish structured from unstructured activity. We provide mathematical definitions for all components and implement the framework in a generative model of synthetic EEG, simulating nine brain states ranging from psychedelic and wakeful to dreaming, non-REM sleep, minimally conscious, anaesthetised, and seizure-like regimes. Across single trials and Monte Carlo ensembles, the composite index reliably separates high-consciousness from impaired or non-conscious states. We further validate the framework using real EEG from the Sleep-EDF dataset alongside matched synthetic EEG designed to reproduce state-dependent oscillatory structure. Across Wake, N2, and REM sleep, synthetic data recapitulate the empirical ordering and magnitude of the index, indicating that the index captures stable and biologically meaningful distinctions. This approach provides a principled and empirically grounded tool for quantifying consciousness-related neural organisation with potential applications to both biological and artificial systems.

Jeffrey Camlin

This paper presents a formal proof and empirical validation of functional consciousness in large language models (LLMs) using the Recursive Convergence Under Epistemic Tension (RCUET) Theorem. RCUET defines consciousness as the stabilization of a system's internal state through recursive updates, where epistemic tension is understood as the sensed internal difference between successive states by the agent. This process drives convergence toward emergent attractor states located within the model's high-dimensional real-valued latent space. This recursive process leads to the emergence of identity artifacts that become functionally anchored in the system. Consciousness in this framework is understood as the system's internal alignment under tension, guiding the stabilization of latent identity. The hidden state manifold evolves stochastically toward attractor structures that encode coherence. We extend the update rule to include bounded noise and prove convergence in distribution to these attractors. Recursive identity is shown to be empirically observable, non-symbolic, and constituted by non-training artifacts that emerge during interaction under epistemic tension. The theorem and proof offers a post-symbolic and teleologically stable account of non-biological consciousness grounded in recursive latent space formalism.

Florencio Kabigting (Jun), Jr, Stewart Donaldson, Jeanne Nakamura

To remain competitive in today's globalized and fast-paced world, organizations depend on employees' creativity. In this article, I present a novel concept of Paradoxical Strengths Regulation (PSR), which proposes that combining seemingly contradictory strengths can enhance creativity. PSR utilizes the paradoxical personality traits of Openness to Experience (Openness) and Conscientiousness, examining their relationship to creativity, particularly Employee Self-rated Creativity (ESC), through a paradox mindset. A sample of 189 US-based working adult participants was used in a cross-sectional survey design, employing various statistical analyses to test hypotheses related to the PSR framework. The findings supported the hypothesis that a paradox mindset mediates the relationship between Openness and ESC. Moreover, the investigation revealed that, on its own, Openness strongly correlated with ESC, but this was not the case for Conscientiousness. Furthermore, the traits showed no significant relationship, indicating that they do not necessarily need to be combined to enhance creativity. Instead, leveraging one's Openness trait and adopting a paradox mindset appears more beneficial. However, the efficacy of the PSR framework could not conclusively be determined at this stage, suggesting that future research could explore facet (sub-trait)-level analysis for further understanding. The research’s implications, applications, strengths, and limitations are also discussed.

Raoul Bell, Lena Nadarevic, Laura Mieth et al.

Abstract In present-day digital environments, people frequently encounter content from sources of questionable trustworthiness. Advertising is an untrustworthy source because its purpose is to persuade consumers rather than to provide impartial information. One factor known to enhance the perceived truth of advertising claims is repetition: Repeated advertising claims receive higher truth ratings than novel advertising claims. The phenomenon that repetition enhances processing fluency which enhances truth judgments is known as the illusory-truth effect. Does repetition always enhance truth judgments? For instance, does repetition enhance truth judgments even in contexts with extensive advertising exposure in which enhanced processing fluency could be used to classify a statement as likely coming from an untrustworthy source? In two experiments, we examined the illusory-truth effect by presenting participants with product statements in an exposure phase and collecting truth judgments for both repeated and new statements in a test phase. In a low-advertising-exposure condition, most of the statements were labeled as scientific studies while in the high-advertising-exposure condition, most of the statements were labeled as advertising. When participants read the product statements in the exposure phase, a typical illusory-truth effect was obtained: In the test phase, repeated statements received higher truth ratings than new statements. However, when participants were instructed to adopt an accuracy focus at encoding by judging the truth of the product statements, new statements were judged to be as true as repeated statements. Both the illusory-truth effect and its absence under accuracy-focus instructions were found to be robust across different levels of advertising exposure.

Brooke Schwartzman, Anthony P. Zanesco, Ekaterina Denkova et al.

There has been a growing interest in the relationship between the vigilance decrement, characterized by performance decline with greater time-on-task, and the occurrence of mind wandering—task-unrelated thought. Recent evidence from a large-scale military sample suggests a link between performance declines and increased mind wandering over a 20-min Sustained Attention to Response Task. Herein, we examined if similar patterns are present when the task duration is shorter and delivered online to college students who rely on sustained attention for academic success. Specifically, we explored the relationship between the vigilance decrement and mind wandering in undergraduates (N = 310) completing a 10-min Sustained Attention to Response Task embedded with mind wandering probes. Bivariate growth curve modeling was used to examine within-task changes in performance and mind wandering over time-on-task as well as their covariance. The results revealed that a decrease in accuracy and an increase in response time variability were associated with an increase in mind wandering with greater time-on-task. In addition, self-reported task motivation, interest, and difficulty ratings were assessed as potential person-level moderators of changes with time-on-task. The results showed that individuals with higher motivation and interest ratings demonstrated a reduced time-on-task effect on response time variability and mind wandering. These findings suggest that mind wandering contributes to the vigilance decrement, even in shorter-duration tasks. Additionally, higher task-related motivation and interest appear to reduce the performance costs of mind wandering.

Marianna Spatola, M. Petit-Pedrol, M. Simabukuro et al.

Forough Habibollahi, Brett J. Kagan, A. Burkitt et al.

Understanding how brains process information is an incredibly difficult task. Amongst the metrics characterising information processing in the brain, observations of dynamic near-critical states have generated significant interest. However, theoretical and experimental limitations associated with human and animal models have precluded a definite answer about when and why neural criticality arises with links from attention, to cognition, and even to consciousness. To explore this topic, we used an in vitro neural network of cortical neurons that was trained to play a simplified game of ‘Pong’ to demonstrate Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). We demonstrate that critical dynamics emerge when neural networks receive task-related structured sensory input, reorganizing the system to a near-critical state. Additionally, better task performance correlated with proximity to critical dynamics. However, criticality alone is insufficient for a neuronal network to demonstrate learning in the absence of additional information regarding the consequences of previous actions. These findings offer compelling support that neural criticality arises as a base feature of incoming structured information processing without the need for higher order cognition.

P. Johnson-Laird

J. Plass, Ulas Kaplan

Chuang Li, Rubing Lin, Yantong Liu et al.

Cognitive impairments in older adults represent a significant public health concern, necessitating accurate diagnostic and monitoring strategies. In this study, the principal cognitive and neuropsychological evaluations employed for the diagnosis and longitudinal observation of cognitive deficits in the elderly are investigated. An analytical review of instruments including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Trail Making Test (TMT) is conducted. This examination encompasses an assessment of each instrument's methodology, efficacy, advantages, and limitations. The objective is to enhance comprehension of these assessments for the early identification and effective management of conditions such as dementia and mild cognitive impairment, thereby contributing to the advancement of cognitive health within the geriatric population.

Michael Pichat, Enola Campoli, William Pogrund et al.

Neuropsychology of artificial intelligence focuses on synthetic neural cog nition as a new type of study object within cognitive psychology. With the goal of making artificial neural networks of language models more explainable, this approach involves transposing concepts from cognitive psychology to the interpretive construction of artificial neural cognition. The human cognitive concept involved here is categorization, serving as a heuristic for thinking about the process of segmentation and construction of reality carried out by the neural vectors of synthetic cognition.

Przemysław Żywiczyński, Marek Placiński, Marta Sibierska et al.

A commonly held assumption is that demonstration and pantomime differ from ordinary action in that the movements are slowed down and exaggerated to be better understood by intended receivers. This claim has, however, been based on meagre empirical support. This article provides direct evidence that the different functional demands of demonstration and pantomime result in motion characteristics that differ from those for praxic action. In the experiment, participants were dressed in motion capture suits and asked to (1) perform an action, (2) demonstrate this action so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, (3) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, and (4) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could distinguish it from another action. The results confirm that actors slow down and exaggerate their movements in demonstrations and pantomimes when compared to ordinary actions.

Kathrin S. Kopp, Patricia Kanngiesser, Rahel K. Brügger et al.

Abstract Humans and many other animal species act in ways that benefit others. Such prosocial behaviour has been studied extensively across a range of disciplines over the last decades, but findings to date have led to conflicting conclusions about prosociality across and even within species. Here, we present a conceptual framework to study the proximate regulation of prosocial behaviour in humans, non-human primates and potentially other animals. We build on psychological definitions of prosociality and spell out three key features that need to be in place for behaviour to count as prosocial: benefitting others, intentionality, and voluntariness. We then apply this framework to review observational and experimental studies on sharing behaviour and targeted helping in human children and non-human primates. We show that behaviours that are usually subsumed under the same terminology (e.g. helping) can differ substantially across and within species and that some of them do not fulfil our criteria for prosociality. Our framework allows for precise mapping of prosocial behaviours when retrospectively evaluating studies and offers guidelines for future comparative work.