Javier Alejandro Galadí García
This thesis applies the great advances of modern dynamical systems theory (DST) to consciousness. Consciousness, or subjective experience, is faced here in two different ways: from the global dynamics of the human brain and from the integrated information theory (IIT), one of the currently most prestigious theories on consciousness.
Before that, a study of a numerical simulation of a network of individual neurons justifies the use of the Lotka-Volterra model for neurons assemblies in both applications.
All these proposals are developed following this scheme: • First, summarizing the structure, methods and goal of the thesis.
• Second, introducing a general background in neuroscience and the global dynamics of the human brain to better understand those applications.
• Third, conducting a study of a numerically simulated network of neurons. This network, which displays brain rhythms, can be employed, among other objectives, to justify the use of the Lotka-Volterra model for applications.
• Fourth, summarizing concepts from the mathematical DST such as the global attractor and its informational structure, in addition to its particularization to a Lotka-Volterra system.
• Fifth, introducing the new mathematical concepts of model transform and instantaneous parameters that allow the application of simple mathematical models such as Lotka-Volterra to complex empirical systems as the human brain.
• Sixth, using the model transform, and specifically the Lotka-Volterra transform, to calculate global attractors and informational structures in global dynamics of the human brain.
• Seventh, knowing the probably most prestigious theory on consciousness, the IIT developed by G. Tononi.
• Eighth, using informational structures to develop a continuous version of IIT.
• And ninth, establishing some final conclusions and commenting on new open questions from this work.
The study of consciousness has started to grow into a mature science and the present thesis is a contribution to this growing body of work.
This thesis brings a new perspective from the field of dynamical systems to the difficult problem of describing consciousness. In particular, it develops the use of Lotka-Volterra modelling of global attractors and informational structures for describing the dynamics of the human brain.
The thesis is presented in a logical manner with nine chapters stating the background, methods, results and general conclusions.
Of particular importance is the development of a novel framework of informational structures in a continuous version of the integrated information theory proposed by Tononi.
Overall, the thesis is a contribution to our growing understanding of one of the central problems in neuroscience.
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