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Reveal the informational nature of conscious self and sense of agency under the information closure theory of consciousness

Research Project

Project/Area Number 22K20679
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section 0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
Research InstitutionRikkyo University (2023)
The University of Tokyo (2022)

Principal Investigator

Chang Acer Yu-Chan  立教大学, 現代心理学部, 助教 (50831484)

Project Period (FY) 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Keywordsconsciousness / theory of consciousness / information theory / information closure / Information Closure / neuroscience / Consciousness / ICT / Mathematical Model / Neural Systems / Sense of Agency / Artificial Intelligence / Scale Problem / Simulation / Conscious Action
Outline of Research at the Start

This project investigates conscious action and the sense of agency using the framework of the Information Closure Theory of consciousness. Research aims include understanding the sense of agency via information theory and identifying conscious action and agency in neural and artificial systems.

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the research period, we explored the fundamental nature of consciousness and the sense of agency using the Information Closure Theory (ICT). This theory suggests that consciousness arises from particular patterns of information processing within a system. We created a new mathematical model that incorporates actions into the ICT framework to describe the conscious self and agency. Our research consisted of three phases: (1) developing the mathematical foundation, (2) conducting small-scale simulations, and (3) applying the model to advanced AI systems.. These simulations used artificial neural networks to validate our model, and the application to AI systems helped test its broader relevance. The outcomes of our research offer a deeper understanding of consciousness and its mechanisms, which could have significant implications for neuroscience and ethical considerations in AI development.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

私たちの研究は、科学的および社会的に重要な意義を持っています。科学的には、情報閉包理論(ICT)に基づく新しい数学モデルを開発し、意識とエージェンシーのメカニズムを解明しました。このモデルをシミュレーションで検証し、高度なAIシステムにも適用しました。この研究は、神経科学や認知科学の基本的な問題に取り組み、意識の理解を深めるものです。社会的には、AIの倫理的使用に関するガイドラインや政策の策定に役立つ可能性があります。また、人間の心の理解を深めることで、メンタルヘルス治療の改善にも貢献するでしょう。この研究は、科学と社会の架け橋となり、AIや認知科学に対する倫理的なアプローチを促進します。

Report

(3 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All 2024 2023 2022

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Presentation (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results,  Invited: 1 results)

  • [Journal Article] The sensitivity and criterion of sense of agency2024

    • Author(s)
      Wen Wen、Chang Acer Yu-Chan、Imamizu Hiroshi
    • Journal Title

      Trends in Cognitive Sciences

      Volume: inーpress Issue: 5 Pages: 397-399

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.tics.2024.03.002

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] Between Individual Brains and Collective Behavior: Multi-level Emergence in a Group Formation Task2023

    • Author(s)
      Sangati Ekaterina、Sangati Federico、Cheng Yi-Shan、Yu-Chan Chang Acer
    • Organizer
      Artificial Life Conference Proceedings
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Information-Theoretical Analysis of Team Dynamics in Football Matches2023

    • Author(s)
      K Cheng, Yi-Shan and Chang, Yu-Chan and Doya
    • Organizer
      Asia-Singapore Conference on Sport Science
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Sense of Agency as active causal inference at an abstract action plan level.2022

    • Author(s)
      Acer Chang
    • Organizer
      第13回多感覚研究会
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Invited

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Published: 2022-09-01   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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