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Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2025CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Cognitive Control and Consciousness in Open Biological Systems
Bio systems, v 251, 105457
May 2025
PMID: 40188859
Featured in Collection : Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
Abstract
Thermodynamically open biological systems not only sustain a life-supporting mutual relationship with their environment by exchanging matter and energy but constantly seek information to navigate probabilistic changes in their surroundings. This work argues that cognition and conscious thought should not be viewed in isolation but rather as parts of an integral control of biological systems to identify and act upon meaningful, semantic information to sustain viability. Under this framework, the development of key cognitive control capacities in centralized nervous systems and the resulting behavior are categorized into distinct Markov decision processes: decision-making with partially observable sensory exteroceptive and interoceptive information, learning and memory, and symbolic communication. It is proposed that the state of conscious thought arises from a control mechanism for speech production resembling actuator control in engineered systems. Also known as the phonological loop, this feedback from the motor to sensory cortex provides a third type of information flowing into the sensory cortex. The continuous, dissipative loop updates the fleeting working memory and provides humans with an advanced layer of control through a sense of self, agency and perception of flow in time. These capacities define distinct degrees of information fitness in the evolution of information-powered organisms.
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Details
- Title
- Cognitive Control and Consciousness in Open Biological Systems
- Creators
- Andres Kriete (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Publication Details
- Bio systems, v 251, 105457
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- Drexel University Library
The author would like to thank Catherine von Reyn, Drexel University, for useful remarks during the development of the manuscript. The support of the Drexel University Library is greatly appreciated.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001470811800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105002337191
- Other Identifier
- 991022043492304721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Biology
- Mathematical & Computational Biology