yourhimind.com
The H I Theory of Core Consciousness Characteristics.
John Cochrane Jan-Sep 2025
This theory suggests some of the primary processes or characteristics that may help to define the nature of our essential, or core, consciousness. These characteristics together provide a functional outline of what seems to be always present when consciousness is active.
Most of this theory is relatively conventional and has been covered by many other theories and propositions.
Four Theories.
This theory is the second of four theories that address different aspects of human consciousness.
The four theories are largely independent, in the sense that each addresses a different aspect of consciousness and do not rely strongly on each other. Each theory contributes, subject to verification, to an overall understanding of the function and experience of human consciousness.
Each of the theories are broadly compatible with Global Workspace Theory and/or similar theories that approach consciousness through the processes apparent in the brain as a whole. The theories are also broadly relatable to the Thousand Brains Model of intelligence as well as modern hemispheric research and theories.
What Core Consciousness is not.
In order to identify the characteristics of core consciousness, we can begin by describing what it is not. The Thousand Brains Model of consciousness describes intelligence as different to consciousness.
In the first of the HI Theories of consciousness, I suggest that general intelligence can be included in a model of the human mind. Intelligence provides us with varied types of memory, an ability to learn (including languages), capabilities to identify and understand many objects and concepts, creative abilities, language skills, and so on.
Whilst specific ideas, thoughts, and memories can be thought of as occurring in consciousness, it is general intelligence that provides us with our ability to think, learn, and store memories.
Characteristic 1: Current Simulation (or Interpretation).
I suggest that each of the intelligent focuses of mind basically works through a process of simulation. Our Subconscious receives input from our senses which it processes in a variety of ways to give the best data that it can to represent the current state of our body and our surroundings.
Each of our Neocortex-based focuses then takes the information from the Subconscious and creates another simulation, or a number of simulations, of how the data can be interpreted into something of known significance. The focuses identify opportunities, threats, and unknowns as part of this simulation process within the categories of interest of each particular focus.
In simple cases, our core consciousness combines the simulations of each of the other focuses into an overall simulation of us as an individual in an environment. This combined simulation (or interpretation) will also include potential actions that we can take from moment to moment to interact within our perceived environment. These simulations can include predictions of energy usage and opportunities to be potentially lost or gained.
This appreciation of the combination of simulations is broadly compatible with Cortical Column Theories such as the Thousand Brains Theory of Intelligence.
Characteristic 2: Working Memory.
Core consciousness has an additional role, and that is to try and sort through the various simulations currently being produced by the other focuses and to select an optimal outcome. Working Memory plays a vital role in supporting the essential consciousness to perform this task of optimisation. It is Working Memory that can store different predictions of the outcome of different behavioural choices. It is Working Memory that can keep track of how different choices and different simulations might play out over time.
Global Workspace Theory, the IDA Model, and others explore the importance of Working Memory to consciousness.
Characteristic 3: Language-Based Logic.
One feature of human consciousness that is worth noting is that there is great variability in the quality of consciousness that we experience moment by moment. We may be very aware of our detailed visual field, or the conversations that we are a part of, or our own inner running commentary observing our own experience.
A key role for our core consciousness is to apply logic to our thinking. We consciously reason and plan and manage our awareness. It seems to me that this capability, in the adult mind, is intrinsically linked to our ability to express thoughts as language. In the HI Mind Model this implies that consciousness and the logical thinking that we experience is strongly enabled by the Cultural Focus and the Noble Focus, which provide our basic language capabilities.
There are a number of theories of consciousness that are based on the importance of language-based logic.
One point to note is that language is an acquired skill. It is not present at birth, so early consciousness is inhibited compared to adult consciousness.
Characteristic 4: Narrative Context.
Combining the mechanisms of simulation, working memory, and language-based logic suggests that a primary mechanism used by core consciousness, to fulfil its function of management and planning, is through a form of internal story-telling, or narrative creation, that records our understanding of the current context.
Every time that we create or hold a conscious thought we are creating an internal observation of a context (the current situation as described by our simulations), a prediction or predictions of outcome (also through simulation), and, hopefully, a preferred choice of action (preferred behaviour to suit the various simulations).
Narrative Context (story-telling) provides us with an ongoing ability to track our own conscious processing, which is essential for our basic ability to interact proactively with life.
There are a number of theories that recognise the importance of narrative-creation to consciousness.
Other Characteristics.
As we continue to explore and research core consciousness, this list of essential characteristics is bound to become both more extensive and more refined.
Return