For a reason unknown to me, a recent research project on consciousness takes a closer look at two theories. Admittedly, these are influential and neuroscientifically informed theories. One is the Global Workspace Theory (GWT), and Bernard J. Baars is one of its creators. The book I review today is one of his earlier works on GWT.

The theory, as I understand it, uses theater as a metaphor to explain conscious experience. The players in the theater are predominantly senses (hearing, seeing, etc.), but also imagery and ideas. The players are the contents of conscious experience. Conscious experience is the stage. The experience is conscious because of global broadcasting. The audience is the unconscious brain systems of memory, control, and emotions. Individuals in the audience may operate by themselves unconsciously, but when new or challenging tasks arise, several members of the audience are recruited by the players on the stage. The operators behind the scenes are attention and context. Attention selects the player and ‘shines a light’. The context models the events on stage. I will admit that I have lost myself in terminology and, quite possibly, could have misinterpreted something. At some point, consciousness is equalized with conscious experience. At another point, conscious experience is equalized with working memory. After introducing the theory in the first chapter, the book goes on discussing separate members of the theater: perception, attention, context, self, and volition. Lasty, the author devotes a chapter to answering the question of what consciousness is needed for. The suggestions are: 1) put priority labels on the events; 2) make decisions; 3) be flexible; 4) detect errors; 5) learn and adapt; 6) create channels between information for different domains. 

In my view, the book has three ideas that, surprisingly enough, have nothing to do with the theory of consciousness (or conscious experience). First, consciousness can and should be studied; the scientific community should not shy away from an object as mysterious as consciousness. Second, consciousness is real; it makes a difference (in learning, for instance). Third, there are conscious and unconscious processes. I agree wholeheartedly. Although nothing of this speaks for or against the theory.

My main purpose was to better understand GWT, but I didn’t find a clear explanation in the book. Apparently, B.J. Baars has been developing this theory over the years, and it has probably been solidified in his more recent publications. However, if you are interested in the chronological development of the theory, the book may be of interest. Otherwise, the book is a very general conversation on the state of the scientific approach to consciousness (or conscious experience) in the late 1990s and a very general overview of studies on attention, memory, self, and language.

Memorable quote: “...the less conscious we are, the more we are likely to make an error”

August, 2023