Tiffany LaByer

There is currently a hole in information theory: the description of subjective information. This category of information is relied on to find empirical neural correlates of consciousness. It is applied to decision making paradigms and modeling in behavioral sciences. It is experienced by us humans every second of our existence, and is the primary underlying challenge in consciousness research. Shockingly, it also appears to be fundamental to physics as shown by the novel Wigner’s Friend no-go theorems. The lack of a rigorous description of subjective information is surprising given how widespread its direct usage, influence, and appearance is across multiple fields of research. We propose a new model of subjective information systems along with an original generalized definition of consciousness. This starter model is meant to address the underlying “barrier problem” associated with subjective information systems, is independent of any consciousness theory, and is grounded in Landauer’s Principle that information is physical. Our three part model builds upon discrete systems and boundary formation to arrive at an upper bound on transferability between communicating subjective information systems. We also conjecture an energetic signature of a subjective information system providing a way to test a system for the existence of subjective information under the barrier problem constraint. Finally, we introduce and compare potential analogous models which are dependent on assumptions of emergence, fundamentality, and exclusion respectively and which could provide a new approach to falsifying prevailing assumptions of competing consciousness theories.

Tiffany LaByer has been interested in the nature of consciousness since childhood and began the practice of meditation in early adulthood. Her interest in consciousness, quantum mechanics, and deep love of science led her to major in physics. During her undergrad at Stony Brook University she was part of the ePHENIX research group and helped develop a magnetic cloaking device for use in high energy asymmetric particle collision experiments, and is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma physics honors society. She is interested in the physical mechanisms which allow for the existence of subjective information in the universe and finding a practical solution to testing theories of consciousness and artificial systems.