integrated information theory

E389950

information-theoretic framework neuroscientific theory philosophy of mind theory theory of consciousness

Integrated information theory is a theoretical framework in neuroscience and philosophy of mind that attempts to explain and quantify consciousness in terms of how much information a system integrates as a whole.

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All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
integrated information theory canonical	4
Integrated Information Theory of consciousness	3
Integrated Information Theory	2

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T3805691 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: integrated information theory
Context triple: [Consciousness: An Introduction, topic, integrated information theory]

A. Orch-OR theory of consciousness
The Orch-OR theory of consciousness is a controversial proposal suggesting that conscious experience arises from quantum processes within neuronal microtubules in the brain.
B. The Computational Brain
The Computational Brain is an influential book that explores how principles of computation and neural networks can explain brain function and cognition.
C. information theory
Information theory is a mathematical framework for quantifying information, communication, and data compression, foundational to modern digital communication and signal processing.
D. an information-theoretic perspective on economic systems
An information-theoretic perspective on economic systems views economies as complex information-processing networks, analyzing how knowledge, signals, and communication constraints shape coordination, efficiency, and institutional design.
E. orchestrated objective reduction
Orchestrated objective reduction is a controversial quantum theory of consciousness proposing that cognitive processes arise from quantum computations in brain microtubules that collapse due to an objective physical mechanism.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: integrated information theory
Target entity description: Integrated information theory is a theoretical framework in neuroscience and philosophy of mind that attempts to explain and quantify consciousness in terms of how much information a system integrates as a whole.

A. Orch-OR theory of consciousness
The Orch-OR theory of consciousness is a controversial proposal suggesting that conscious experience arises from quantum processes within neuronal microtubules in the brain.
B. The Computational Brain
The Computational Brain is an influential book that explores how principles of computation and neural networks can explain brain function and cognition.
C. information theory
Information theory is a mathematical framework for quantifying information, communication, and data compression, foundational to modern digital communication and signal processing.
D. an information-theoretic perspective on economic systems
An information-theoretic perspective on economic systems views economies as complex information-processing networks, analyzing how knowledge, signals, and communication constraints shape coordination, efficiency, and institutional design.
E. orchestrated objective reduction
Orchestrated objective reduction is a controversial quantum theory of consciousness proposing that cognitive processes arise from quantum computations in brain microtubules that collapse due to an objective physical mechanism.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (54)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	information-theoretic framework ⓘ neuroscientific theory ⓘ philosophy of mind theory ⓘ theory of consciousness ⓘ
aimsTo	explain consciousness ⓘ quantify consciousness ⓘ
appliedIn	brain connectivity analysis ⓘ disorders of consciousness ⓘ neuroscience of anesthesia ⓘ sleep research ⓘ
assumption	consciousness corresponds to integrated information generated by a system ⓘ consciousness is definite ⓘ consciousness is intrinsic to the system that has it ⓘ consciousness is specific ⓘ consciousness is structured ⓘ consciousness is unified ⓘ
coreClaim	the level of consciousness of a system is given by the amount of integrated information Φ it generates ⓘ the quality of consciousness corresponds to the system’s cause–effect structure ⓘ
countryOfOrigin	United States ⓘ linked to: United States of America
criticizedFor	computational intractability for large systems ⓘ dependence on system decomposition choices ⓘ difficulty of empirical testing ⓘ panpsychist implications ⓘ
defines	integrated information Φ ⓘ
distinguishes	conscious and unconscious states ⓘ
field	cognitive science ⓘ consciousness studies ⓘ neuroscience ⓘ philosophy of mind ⓘ
hasMetric	Φ measure of integrated information ⓘ
implies	feedforward systems have low or zero Φ ⓘ recurrent networks can have high Φ ⓘ
influencedBy	information theory ⓘ neuroscience of consciousness ⓘ systems theory ⓘ
mainConcept	cause–effect structure ⓘ consciousness ⓘ information integration ⓘ integrated information ⓘ
postulate	composition postulate ⓘ exclusion postulate ⓘ information postulate ⓘ integration postulate ⓘ intrinsic existence postulate ⓘ
proposedBy	Giulio Tononi ⓘ
relatedConcept	functionalism ⓘ global neuronal workspace theory ⓘ linked to: global neuronal workspace theory of consciousness information theory ⓘ panpsychism ⓘ
symbol	Φ ⓘ
version	IIT 1.0 ⓘ IIT 2.0 ⓘ IIT 3.0 ⓘ IIT 4.0 ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Consciousness: An Introduction → topic → integrated information theory ⓘ

Christof Koch → hasWrittenOn → integrated information theory ⓘ

Orch-OR theory of consciousness → contrastsWith → integrated information theory ⓘ

Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist → exploresConcept → integrated information theory ⓘ

The Feeling of Life Itself: Why Consciousness Is Widespread but Can't Be Computed → mainSubject → Integrated Information Theory ⓘ