Head to head
Attention Schema Theory vs Integrated Information Theory
Attention Schema Theory and Integrated Information Theory (IIT), compared field by field from their entries in the Atlas.
At a glance
- Attention Schema Theory belongs to the Materialism family in Kuhn's Landscape of Consciousness, Integrated Information Theory to Information.
- On AI consciousness, Attention Schema Theory says “Likely” and Integrated Information Theory says “No”.
- On life after death, Attention Schema Theory says “No” and Integrated Information Theory says “Uncertain”.
- On mind uploading, Attention Schema Theory says “Possible” and Integrated Information Theory says “No”.
- On meaning and purpose, Attention Schema Theory says “Humanistic only” and Integrated Information Theory says “Uncertain”.
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The claim
In brief
Attention Schema TheoryThis theory posits that consciousness arises when the brain constructs a quick, simplified, internal model—an attention schema—of its own process of attention. The brain mistakenly interprets and reports this internal representation as a subjective, non-physical essence or a 'self-caricature,' even though it is fundamentally a computational product.
Integrated Information TheoryIIT is an original, radical model that proposes a definition for conscious experience and specifies which physical systems can possess it, starting from the phenomenology of consciousness (axioms). It translates these axioms into physical postulates based on intrinsic cause-effect power, featuring a mathematical measure Φ(Phi) to quantify a system's capacity for informational integration, which correlates with the degree of consciousness.
What consciousness is
Attention Schema TheoryConsciousness is identified as the brain’s internal representation or simplified model of its own mechanism of attention (the attention schema), which is a specific example of higher-order thought.
Integrated Information TheoryConsciousness is identified as a Φ-structure, a maximally reduced conceptual structure existing in 'qualia space'. An experience is identical to this conceptual structure, meaning its phenomenal properties correspond precisely to the physical properties of the cause-effect structure unfolded from the physical substrate of consciousness (PSC).
Big questions
Can AI be conscious?Differ
Attention Schema TheoryLikelySince consciousness is defined as a computational process (the creation of an attention schema), in principle, artificial systems that implement the necessary computational architecture could become conscious. Furthermore, observers will inevitably make the social attribution of consciousness to sufficiently complex AI systems that act like they are conscious.
Integrated Information TheoryNoKoch, a proponent, argues that consciousness is not computable. Digital computers have negligible integrated information (Φ(Phi)) due to hardware structure, meaning they can never be sentient, regardless of intelligence.
Attention Schema TheoryNoAs a Materialist/Neurobiological theory, consciousness is tied to the physical substrate (the biological, information-processing machine), precluding survival beyond the decay of the body.
Integrated Information TheoryUncertainIf phenomenal consciousness requires a radically new structure (like IIT's postulates), the potential permanence of these 'inscrutable things' cannot be rejected, leaving the possibility of survival open, even though IIT does not explicitly espouse life after death.
Attention Schema TheoryPossibleIf the consciousness is realized as a computational structure (the attention schema), and if this structure and the relevant information processing systems can be accurately uploaded to a non-biological medium, virtual immortality is theoretically possible.
Integrated Information TheoryNoIf consciousness is a fundamental property tied to real cause-effect power, a digital simulation (uploading) would only create a 'perfect zombie'—an entity that acts like the original but lacks subjective consciousness—because the simulation is virtual, lacking the required real cause-effect power.
Attention Schema TheoryHumanistic onlyConsciousness provides an adaptive, evolutionary purpose (monitoring and regulating attention for action control), but does not imply any ultimate or cosmic meaning, consistent with Materialism.
Integrated Information TheoryUncertainWhile the measurement and analysis of consciousness do not convey ultimate meaning, the speculative nature and novelty of the innumerable nth dimensional conceptual structures (conscious percepts) warrants suspending judgment on ultimate meaning/purpose/value.
Nature of mind
Ontology
Attention Schema TheoryPhysicalism
Integrated Information TheoryIIT's fundamental ontology is the ontological primacy of phenomenal existence, based on an intrinsic powers view where what truly exists in physical terms are intrinsic entities capable of cause and effect. Koch notes that the theory insists consciousness must be incorporated into the basic description of reality at the rock-bottom level.
Mind and body
Attention Schema TheoryConsciousness is the report generated by a biological, information processing machine (the brain) through the assessment of its internal data, meaning mental states are computational and wholly physical.
Integrated Information TheoryIIT asserts an explanatory identity: an experience is identical to a Φ-structure. It contends that the conscious entity is the Φ-structure expressing its causal powers, not the neural substrate itself. This framework leaves no room for emergence or dualism.
Fundamental or emergent
Attention Schema TheoryEmergent
Integrated Information TheoryConsciousness is defined by intrinsic existence and characterized as belonging to the basic description of reality. The theory rejects emergence.
Qualia
Attention Schema TheoryConsciousness is described as a 'self-caricature' or an illusory report of a non-physical essence, suggesting a deflationary or illusionist account of qualia, akin to Daniel Dennett’s view.
Integrated Information TheoryDistinct conscious experiences are conceptual structures in a 'qualia space'. The qualitative feel (phenomenal properties) corresponds one-to-one to the physical properties of the maximally irreducible cause-effect structure, which is also called a quale.
How it works
Mechanism
Attention Schema TheoryThe construction and maintenance of a simplified internal model (the attention schema) of the process of attention, rooted in principles from control engineering.
Integrated Information TheoryThe core principle is Integrated Information (Φ(Phi)), which quantifies the system's irreducibility. The Exclusion Postulate ensures that only the maximally irreducible cause-effect structure (the Φ-structure) exists intrinsically, defining the boundaries and grain of consciousness.
Where it is
Attention Schema TheoryLocated within the biological, information-processing system of the brain.
Integrated Information TheoryConsciousness is not limited to biological brains. IIT predicts the conscious structure resides in the posterior cortex (occipital, parietal, and temporal cortices). Systems with maximally irreducible intrinsic cause-effect power possess consciousness.
What it does
Attention Schema TheoryThe functional role of the attention schema is to monitor and regulate the brain's attention in order to control actions in the world. The resulting capacity allows the system to claim consciousness.
Integrated Information TheoryConsciousness is identified as unfolded intrinsic causal power, which is the ability to effect change. Only this intrinsic entity (the Φ-structure) can cause, supporting the claim that true free will exists for systems with high Φ(Phi).
Evidence and criticism
Testability
Attention Schema TheoryEmpirically testable
Integrated Information TheoryIIT claims scientific testability, employing quantitative measurement. However, critics argue that the theory is not truly empirically tested, and its core predictions may be idiosyncratic.
Tests so far
Attention Schema TheoryNot stated
Integrated Information TheoryCalculating Φ(Phi) for specific neural networks (e.g., visual cortex).,Monitoring brain activity as subjects slip into anesthesia.,Adversarial collaboration experiments testing predictions about sustained activity in the posterior cortex.
Criticisms
Attention Schema TheoryThe theory explains how a system can *claim* consciousness but faces the general limitation, shared by similar functionalist models, of conclusively proving or explaining the actual subjective feel (the 'anybody home' problem) which remains eternally uncertain, even by the proponent's admission.
Integrated Information TheoryThe theory faces criticism for anti-common sense predictions (imputing consciousness to simple objects). A public letter characterized IIT as 'pseudoscience'. Critics challenge that experiments test only idiosyncratic predictions and not the core metaphysical ideas. Chalmers noted the 'pseudoscience' label was disproportionate and caused vast collateral damage.
Sources
Key sources
Attention Schema Theory
- True nature of consciousness: solving the biggest mystery of your mind, M. Graziano (2019)
- Rethinking Consciousness: A Scientific Theory of Subjective Experience, M. Graziano (2019)
- Can consciousness be non-biological?, M. Graziano (2014)
Integrated Information Theory
- From the phenomenology to the mechanisms of consciousness: integrated information theory 3.0, Oizumi, Albantakis, Tononi (2014)
- Consciousness: here, there and everywhere?, Tononi and Koch (2015)
- Only what exists can cause: an intrinsic powers view of free will, Tononi et al. (2022)
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