How would TGD have managed in the competion between theories of consciousness?

Templeton World Charity foundation held a kind of competition for two neuro science based theory of consciousness: namely, IIT (Integrated information theory) and GNWT (Global neural work space theory). Quanta Magazine article discusses the outcome of the competion.

IIT and GNWT met several hurdles in the competition.

1. The first hurdle checked how well each theory decoded the categories of the objects that the subjects saw in the presented images. Both theories performed well here, but IIT was better at identifying the orientation of objects.
2. The second hurdle tested the timing of the signals. IIT predicted sustained, synchronous firing in the hot zone for the duration of the conscious state. While the signal was sustained, it did not remain synchronous. GNWT predicted an “ignition” of the workspace followed by a second spike when the stimulus disappeared. Only the initial spike was detected. In the on-screen scoring for the NYU audience, IIT pulled ahead.
3. The third hurdle concerned overall connectivity across the brain. GNWT scored better than IIT here, largely because some analyses of the results supported GNWT predictions while the signals across the hot zone were not synchronous.

Could TGD  inspired theory of consciousness  overcome these hurdles?

1. TGD  inspired theory of consciousness is essentially quantum measurement theory involving what I call zero energy ontology, which solves the basic paradox of quantum measurement. Also quantum coherence in arbitrarily long scales is possible by the hierarchy of Planck constants labelling phases of ordinary matter behaving like dark matter.   Not only the brain but also the magnetic body of the brain are involved with the process. 
2. Generation of  mental images, perception, is  basically a quantum measurement i.e.  state function  reduction (SFR) in TGD sense. There are  "small" SFRs (SSFRs) and "big" SFRs (BSFRs).  A  sequence of SSFRs corresponds to a sequence of repeated measurements  of sets of observables which commute with each other (this set can gradually increase as perception becomes sharper): a generalization of  the Zeno effect or  rather of weak measurement of quantum optics is in question. Each SSFR in the sequence  gives rise to qualia.   This process gives rise to a mental image   as a conscious entity, subself of self.  Each SSFR in the sequence  gives rise to qualia. Attention as a  sequence of repeated measurements   involving the  same observables would correspond to a sequence of  SSFRs.

   BSFR, which generalizes ordinary quantum measurement, occurs  when new observables not commuting with those measured in previous SSFRs are measured. In BSFR the arrow of time changes.  In a  pair of BSFRs in which the arrow of time temporarily changes and  it gives rise to new percept.  This certainly involves firing.    The original mental image as a conscious entity dies and reincarnates with the opposite arrow of time (also I am a  mental image  of some  higher level self). A pair of BSFRs leads to the original arrow of time  and corresponds to quantum tunnelling.    

3.  Holography of consciousness is essential. The mental image generated in SSFR lasts and  until the  next SSFR occurs and possibly modifies it. The outcome of quantum measurement as SSFR  and also BSFR thus defines analog of holographic data. If new observables commuting with the original ones are measured in the next SSFR they make the percept   more precise and conscious experience changes.  The percept can also become less sharp when less observables are measured.
4.  If synchronous firing  could be related to SSFRs it would happen in each modification of mental images as it sharpens or becomes dimmer. The gradual loss of synchrony could relate to the dimming.  The synchronous firing occurs only when  the mental images are created, say in eureka experience, but  does not last  the entire duration of the percept as found by Revonsuo a long time ago. No spikes need to occur when the stimulus disappears unless the observer  is ready to detect  this.

TGD therefore overcomes the first and second hurdle. The third hurdle reduces the synchrony across brain scales that at the level of the magnetic body and synchronous firing at disjoint brain regions corresponds to a single region active at the part of the magnetic body of the brain to which signals from the brain are sent by EEG. This explains why salamander survive as a conscious entity when its brain is sliced to pieces and shuffled like a pack of cards.

For a summary of earlier postings see Latest progress in TGD.

For the lists of articles (most of them published in journals founded by Huping Hu) and books about TGD see this.