This edited collection, "Open MIND: 39 Chapters on Consciousness and Cognitive Science," posits that a comprehensive understanding of consciousness requires an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence. The book argues against a single, monolithic theory of consciousness, instead presenting a mosaic of perspectives on its nature, mechanisms, and implications. Readers gain exposure to diverse theoretical frameworks and empirical findings that challenge intuitive notions of subjective experience and selfhood.

The volume tackles key questions regarding phenomenal consciousness (what it feels like to be conscious), access consciousness (what information is available for cognitive processing), and the relationship between the two. It explores phenomena such as altered states of consciousness, the self-model, and the computational underpinnings of conscious experience. Ultimately, the collection aims to foster a more nuanced and empirically grounded understanding of one of science's most enduring mysteries.

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Key concepts

Global Workspace Theory — A model proposing that consciousness arises when information is broadcast widely across a network of specialized processors in the brain.
Predictive Processing — A framework suggesting the brain continuously generates predictions about incoming sensory data and updates these based on prediction errors.
Extended Mind Thesis — The idea that cognitive processes can extend beyond the brain to include external tools and environments.
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) — A theory that quantifies consciousness based on the degree of integrated information within a system.