This book makes formal, detailed application of "the informational turn in philosophy" to the global neuronal workspace (GNW) model of consciousness. It uses an extended statistical model of cognitive process to incorporate the effects of embedding physiological, social, and cultural contextual constraints which operate more slowly than the workspace itself, but severely limit the possible realms available to that workspace, and hence to consciousness itself. This is the first formal, comprehensive, and reasonably rigorous, mathematical treatment of the GNW and is the only one to include the effects of embedding contexts in a 'natural' manner.
"This book brings together the fundamental ideas of information theory and the statistical mechanics of phase transitions within the context of the neurosciences, culture, immunology and socio-psychological studies. Outlined is a program pertaining to a dynamic and semantic extension of current models for the global neuronal workspace as were previously introduced by Baars, Dretske and others. Topics include original applications of rate distortion and large deviations theory, biological renormalization, and retinal tuning as means towards understanding consciousness on the large scale. The overall treatment is concise, has been well thought out, and the mathematical details should be accessible to both students and researchers in the cognitive and life sciences."
- James Glazebrook Ph.D, Eastern Illinois University, USA
From the reviews:
"To formulate a serious, clear-cut and transparent formal framework for cognitive neuroscience is a challenge ? . I think that Wallace's book presents an appreciable step in the right direction. ? Beyond references that are necessary for basic elements of his work, the author has put together additional interesting reading material ? . It is a book that can unfold its potential to well-educated readers with genuinely interdisciplinary ambitions ? ." (Harald Atmanspacher, Acta Biotheoretica, Vol. 54, 2006)
