Towards a Computational Account of Reflexive Consciousness

Murray Shanahan

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Imperial College London
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2BT
UK
m.shanahan@imperial.ac.uk

Abstract

This paper offers a preliminary sketch for an account of reflex- ive consciousness based on an implemented architecture that combines a global workspace architecture with an internally closed sensorimotor loop. The proposed account extends the theoretical framework of the already im- plemented architecture with to two concepts that structure the flow of con- sciously processed information. First, contextual switches divide the un- folding contents of consciousness into a set of nested episodes, wherein one conscious episode can  refer to another. Second, the imposition of a focus / fringe structure enables consciousness to encompass material that is merely available to it but not actually present. This combination of reflexivity and fringe may underpin our awareness of our own existence as conscious be- ings.