Issue Six: Focus on IIT

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." — John Muir

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Oct 17, 2023

'It is the nature of things to hide themselves' (Heraclitus 1987, fragment 129)

Welcome to the latest issue of The Elevator! We were getting the impression that people were somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of content in the previous issues, so from now on the newsletter will come out more frequently (we’re aiming at once a week although may miss that mark occasionally) but with less content.

We also intend to react to goings-on in the ‘consciousness space’ as they arise. In this issue we cover the controversy around the open letter signed by more than one hundred scientists, including various well-known ones, calling the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness ‘pseudoscience’. We don’t really have a dog in this fight, so we suggest reading the links and making up your own mind. However it might be worth saying that if the science behind a certain theory is wrong, the scientific method itself will surely prove that in time, probably no need for open letters. Even so, it might be that this controversy sparks a useful debate on which theories of consciousness might be closest to being correct and whether they can even be tested in a ‘scientific’ manner at all.

We are going to start covering events related to consciousness and its study, so please leave links to recommended events in the comments if you know of any you think might be useful. And please let us know if you like what we’re sending out, or any suggestions for doing things differently. Thanks for reading!

Events

2nd Annual Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Global Summit

October 10 - 16, 2023. Online conference.

“A free, 7-day online event featuring 50+ world-class experts, including Stanislav Grof, Rosalind Watts, Rick Doblin, Gita Vaid, Andrew Weil, Paul Stamets, Hannah McLane, Bessel van der Kolk, NiCole T. Buchanan, Richard Schwartz, and many more…”

In Defence of Psychedelic Self-Experimentation

Two celebrated psychedelic authors discuss their new books, both of which explore the pain and pleasure of psychedelic self-experimentation, refuting Michael Pollan’s admonition to not ‘self-medicate’ with psychedelics (see article below). Webinar with Jules Evans, October 18.

International Drug Policy Reform Conference

October 18-21, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Intelligence of the Interstitial - SAND

Webinar with Sophie Strand, October 29, 2023 10–11:30am PDT: “We have behaved like ordinary cells for too long, pretending there is no movement from the inside to the outside or vice versa. We have believed, for too long, that our minds belong to us as individuals. Yet advances in everything from forest ecology to microbiology show us we are not siloed selves, but relational networks, built metabolically by our every biome-laced breath, thinking through filamentous connectivity rather than inside one neatly bounded mind. What does it mean to distribute our ideas of cognition, individual health, storytelling, and intuition out into webs of relationship that include pollution, microplastic, old growth forests, and mycorrhizal fungi? What if there are futures only visible from the spaces “between” minds and species and belief systems?”

Beyond the Brain 2023

Online Conference: “The world’s premier conference series exploring whether and how consciousness extends beyond the physical brain.” 3-5 November 2023

“You are something the whole Universe is doing in the same way that a wave is something that the whole ocean is doing. The real you is not a puppet which life pushes around. The real, deep down you IS the whole universe.” — Alan Watts

How To Tell If Your AI Is Conscious — The New York Times

Oliver Whang discusses the difficulty of studying consciousness and how it has traditionally been left to philosophers rather than natural scientists. However, a new report by scientists offers a list of measurable qualities that might indicate the presence of consciousness in a machine. He also touches on the challenges of defining and studying consciousness, and how some in the field of robotics have referred to it as "the C-word".

Opinion | Self-medicating with psychedelic drugs is a dangerous plan - The Washington Post

Adam Aronovich: “A public figure instrumental in sanitizing, declawing and sterilizing psychedelics to render them non-threatening and subservient to the neoliberal world order via a morally bankrupt hyper-medicalised paradigm now advocates for therapized gatekeeping, shocking absolutely no one”.

TESCREAL hallucinations: Psychedelic and AI hype as inequality engines

“While many scholars have called attention to similarities between the earlier SSRI hype and the ongoing hype for psychedelic medications, the rhetoric of psychedelic hype is tinged with utopian and esoteric aspirations that have no parallel in the discourse surrounding SSRIs or other antidepressants. This utopian discourse provides insight into the ways that global tech elites are instrumentalizing both psychedelics and artificial intelligence (AI) as tools in a broader world-building project that justifies increasing material inequality. If realized, this project would undermine the use of both tools for prosocial and pro-environmental outcomes.”

Patients Recall Death Experiences After Cardiac Arrest | NYU Langone News

A study by NYU Grossman School of Medicine and others found that some cardiac arrest survivors experienced lucid death encounters, with brain wave patterns indicating conscious thought even an hour post-arrest. Despite a traditional belief of brain damage 10 minutes post-heart stoppage, the research revealed signs of brain electrical recovery during prolonged CPR. This discovery, part of the AWARE-II study, challenges existing understanding and invites further exploration into death experiences, potentially informing future resuscitation methods and transplantation practices.

A Newly Discovered Brain Signal Marks Recovery from Depression - Scientific American

A recent Nature study identifies a neural code that flags the presence of depression with 90% accuracy. Involving 10 people with hard-to-treat depression, the research used implanted electrodes for deep-brain stimulation and activity sensing. This neural code could optimize treatment by signaling when to adjust stimulation levels, possibly predicting relapse. The study also noted facial changes corresponding with brain wellness, hinting at a broader recovery indicator.

This is the largest map of the human brain ever made

Scientists have created the largest atlas of human brain cells so far, revealing more than 3,000 cell types, many of which are new to science. The work will aid the study of diseases, cognition, and what makes us human, among other things. The enormous cell atlas offers a detailed snapshot of the most complex known organ. This is the first atlas of the whole human brain at the single-cell level, showing its intricate molecular interactions.

Radicle Civics — Building Proofs of Possibilities for a Civic Economy and Society | by Dark Matter | Aug, 2023

Dark Matter Labs articulates a vision for "Radicle Civics," urging a transformation of societal infrastructures to foster interconnectedness and address existential crises. They consider the detrimental cyclical nature of current infrastructures, propose a reimagined civic paradigm centered on mutual interdependencies, and underscore the essence of transcending alienation from our planetary entanglements. This vision is embodied in experimental civic projects termed as 'proofs of possibilities,' aiming to reshape societal relations and infrastructures to engender a more harmonious, sustainable coexistence.

Prefixing the World - by Jonathan Rowson and Perspectiva

"Prefixing the World" discusses the relationship between crisis prefixes, such as polycrisis, permacrisis, and metacrisis. Rowson argues that the recent uptake of ‘polycrisis’ is arbitrary and not a sufficient term to describe the state of the world. He references the work of philosopher Wilfrid Sellars and his guidelines for developing terminology. We need to be more thoughtful and precise in our use of language to better understand and address the complex challenges facing our world.

Share The Elevator’s Substack

The fight over what’s real (and what’s not) on dissociative identity disorder TikTok - The Verge

This article discusses the controversy surrounding the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID) on TikTok. Some clinicians and researchers are concerned that the platform is contributing to an increase in self-diagnoses of the disorder, while some members of the DID community on TikTok feel that they are building a new understanding of the disorder through social media. The broader issue of self-diagnosis on social media and its potential impact on mental health is also touched on.

The Great Psychedelic Experiment | Broadcast

The illegality of psychedelics has hampered clinical research, but recent decriminalization efforts have allowed for more investigation. For example, a team of researchers analyzed nearly seven thousand testimonials relating to the use of 27 different psychedelics from Erowid's archives. They used AI to boil down commonly recounted experiences with a particular drug into their most essential, expressive keywords. “The fruit of this labor is “Trips and Neurotransmitters: Discovering Principled Patterns Across 6850 Hallucinogenic Experiences,” the largest ever study of psychedelic influence on the brain. … Along eight distinct axes of psychedelic experience, it offers an expansive yet precise map of neurotransmitter-receptor combinations that need to be stimulated to induce a specific state of conscious experience.”

Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals — Scientific American

AI's recent strides offer novel insights into animal communication through the analysis of vocalizations and behaviors. These tools hold promise for animal welfare and practical tasks like locating endangered species or optimizing fishing. Yet, they also ignite ethical debates, driving calls for guidelines and legislation to govern their use. Amidst these concerns, the scientific community remains optimistic about AI's potential to deepen our grasp of the natural world's intricacy.

Cultural Hypnosis: Lessons from Amazonian Sorcery and Magic

Adam Aronovich explores the concept of sorcery and magic in Amazonian shamanism and its relevance to Western societies. He argues that Western culture is deeply enchanted by sorcery, particularly in consumerist societies, where advertisers and marketers manipulate symbols to convince people that they are incomplete and undeserving. Aronovich also discusses the perversion of magic by greedy advertisers, politicians, and mass media producers who manipulate symbols and facts to divide and control the masses.

“Our failure to understand sorcery and magic doesn’t stem from irreconcilable ontological differences or clashing worldviews. We fail to recognize sorcery because Western people are so used to it, so hopelessly enchanted by it, that we can’t even see it anymore. No culture in the world is so entrenched in black magic, so utterly enchanted by sorcery than our pre-apocalyptic, late-capitalist consumerist societies.”

Art by Pablo Amaringo, Ucayali, Peru (1938-2009)

Medical Conditions and Unexplained Experiences of Children | Essentia Foundation

Donna Thomas from the Essentia Foundation delves into the interplay between mind and matter, focusing on children's medical conditions like epilepsy and PANS/PANDAS, and their heightened extra-sensory experiences. She posits that ancestral influences may shape these psychic contents within a 'participation mystique.' This challenges the conventional separation of mind and body, suggesting that children might tap into a collective consciousness field. She also scrutinizes the mind's role in nocebo and placebo effects, calling for more nuanced explanations than current biomedical accounts offer.

Daniel Schmachtenberger l An introduction to the Metacrisis l Stockholm Impact/Week 2023

Interview at Impact week in Stockholm. Schmachtenberger discusses the concept of the metacrisis and the need for a deeper consideration of the world's challenges. He reflects on the lack of impact many discussions have on actual behavior and the urgency of addressing global catastrophic risks.

Patients Recall Death Experiences After Cardiac Arrest | NYU Langone News

A study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that some patients revived by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had clear memories afterwards of experiencing death and while unconscious had brain patterns linked to thought and memory. The study authors conclude that research to date has neither proved nor disproved the reality or meaning of patients’ experiences and claims of awareness in relation to death.

Ambitious theories of consciousness are not "scientific misinformation"

Over 100 scientists recently signed a letter declaring that Integrated Information Theory (IIT), one of the most popular scientific theories of consciousness, is "pseudoscience." The letter was sparked by recent press coverage of an international "adversarial collaboration" funded by the Templeton Charity Foundation that tested the predictions of theories of consciousness against one another. The letter has been criticized for being irresponsible and potentially damaging to the field of consciousness research. The letter's signatories are accused of acting out of professional jealousy and rivalry, and of potentially causing a "consciousness winter" in which consciousness research as a whole is considered pseudoscientific.

Consciousness: why a leading theory has been branded 'pseudoscience'

A nice summary for lay people of what IIT is and how the controversy started, by Philip Goff, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, UK.

Nobody knows how consciousness works – but top researchers are fighting over which theories are really science

Another brief overview of the controversy.

The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness as Pseudoscience

This is the letter which has caused all the trouble.

Brain scans are putting a major theory of consciousness to the test — New Scientist

IIT has been tested using data from human brain scans, and seems to work; it “says something has a higher level of consciousness if the interactions between its components yield more information than when reduced to just its components. In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The concept can quantify the complexity of any information-processing system, from brains to computers, but is a work in progress.” Critics say that IIT is not telling us anything we don’t already know without the use of this theory.

Integrated Information Theory explained

A video on IIT: a short lecture by Giulio Tononi, the original proponent of the theory. He explains that IIT is an attempt to address the "hard problem" of consciousness by describing axioms of consciousness that every experience must satisfy. These axioms include existence, structure, differentiation, integration, and exclusion. The degree to which a particular instance of apparent consciousness satisfies these axioms can be measured in a mathematical value, termed ‘phi’ (Φ). So an ant will have a lower phi than a human, for example.

Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics: How are they related?

Introductory video on IIT and how it intersects with the idea that consciousness may be generated by quantum effects in ‘microtubules’ within the brain. (We recommend Sabine Hossenfelder for her well-explained popular science presentations, and not for anything else; in particular her video about capitalism is one to avoid).

‘Pseudoscience’: The Wall Between Science & Philosophy

Mona Sobhani argues that the criticisms of the scientists who signed the letter about IIT are petty and that this type of communication is problematic. She suggests that scientists should be more open-minded and curious and should actively bridge science and philosophy when asking big questions. “... they are basically saying that any philosophy other than scientific materialism/physicalism is ‘pseudoscience.’ Well, damn, we’re going to need a conversation about that which includes philosophers.”

Will We Soon Be Able to Test Theories of Consciousness? | Mind Matters

Researchers are developing tests for two leading theories of consciousness, which are materialist or naturalist theories and quantum theories. Psychedelic drugs provide a privileged opportunity to study the mind-brain relationship and promise to revolutionize some of our current mental health treatments. The dynamics of consciousness may be understood by a newly developed conceptual and neuroimaging model using serotonin receptor maps that explains non-linear functional effects of LSD. The Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at Massachusetts General Hospital investigates the effects of psychedelics at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels across different patient populations to promote healing and alleviate patient suffering.

In defense of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) | Essentia Foundation

Bernardo Kastrup, who we have featured multiple times here at The Elevator, and a staunch defender of the theory of Analytic Idealism, and in what is a possibly surprising move, writes a defense of IIT.

What Does It 'Feel' Like to Be a Chatbot? - Scientific American

Christof Koch, an early proponent of IIT, discusses the recent progress in scientific theories of consciousness, focusing on two dominant theories: IIT, and global neuronal workspace theory (GNWT). He explains the differences between these theories and their implications for the question of whether machines can be conscious, arguing that while artificial general intelligence (AGI) is achievable in the near future, artificial consciousness is a much more difficult problem to solve. Koch concludes by discussing the potential societal impact of chatbots, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and emotionally engaging, even though they are not conscious.

What Is Pseudoscience? - Scientific American

The term "pseudoscience" is subject to adjectival abuse against any claim one happens to dislike for any reason. We can demarcate science from pseudoscience less by what science is and more by what scientists do. Science is a set of methods aimed at testing, while pseudoscience is set up to look for evidence that supports its claims. One of the problems with pseudoscience is that it gets an unfair credibility boost by so cleverly mimicking the surface appearance of science. The article also notes that sciences are testable, while pseudo-sciences are not. The difference between science and pseudoscience matters because scientific methodology is well-suited for building reliable knowledge and for avoiding false beliefs.

Nuggets From The Archive

Has Science Shown That Consciousness Is Only an Illusion? | Mind Matters

Philosopher Daniel Dennett proposes that consciousness is an illusion, a byproduct of brain activity shaped by Darwinian evolution. He even suggests that free will evolves over time. Critics, however, contend his views lack scientific backing and dismiss the real, irreducible phenomenon of consciousness. The Hard Problem of consciousness, focused on subjective experience, remains unresolved.

Psychedelics and the Primacy of the Human Imagination

Adam Aronovich discusses the romanticized and idealized view of plant medicines in certain sectors of the plant medicine/psychedelic scenes. He argues that indigenous perspectives on plant medicine are rooted in cosmologies, ontologies, and ways of being and knowing that are quite difficult for us to truly grasp, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interaction between pharmacology and context, chemistry and language, and the human imagination. Understanding these concepts is a crucial step towards a more grounded, less colonial, and less romanticized psychedelic culture that is self-aware and reflective of its own ideological shadows.

How a Materialist Philosopher Argued His Way to Panpsychism | Mind Matters

Philosopher Galen Strawson's journey towards panpsychism suggests that consciousness is ubiquitous and compatible with physics. Strawson posits that even electrons possess consciousness, which evolution refined into senses like vision and hearing. While his take seemingly resolves the origin dilemma of consciousness, it presents a paradox: evolution acts as a designer in a universe Strawson otherwise describes as purely physicalist.

Bigelow Essays

Beyond Reasonable: Scientific Evidence for Survival by Julie Beischel, PhD

In "Beyond Reasonable: Scientific Evidence for Survival," Julie Beischel merges accessible personal narrative and scientific rigor to explore the survival of human consciousness after death. Sparked by her own experience with a medium following her mother's suicide, Beischel embarks on a nearly two-decade-long scientific journey. She employs randomized, controlled experiments to investigate mediumship, ultimately claiming that her statistically significant findings offer compelling evidence for the survival of consciousness beyond bodily death. The document serves as both a testament to her scientific methodology and a challenge to mainstream skepticism about the subject.

A guest post by

Guy James

Has worked with FairCoop, SEEDS, Pandorahub, P2PFoundation. Recently came back from co-managing a meditation centre in the Pyrenees. Currently researcher and editor at The Elevator. Links: https://hello.guyjames.com

Issue Six: Focus on IIT

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." — John Muir

Table of Contents

Events

Recent Links of Interest

Focus on The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness

Nuggets From The Archive

Events

Recent Links of Interest

Focus on the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness

Nuggets From The Archive

Bigelow Essays

Beyond Reasonable: Scientific Evidence for Survival by Julie Beischel, PhD

Discussion about this post