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Global workspace theory
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Global workspace theory
Global workspace theory (GWT) is a cognitive architecture and theoretical framework for understanding consciousness and was first introduced in 1988 by cognitive scientist Bernard Baars. It was developed to qualitatively explain a large set of matched pairs of conscious and unconscious processes. GWT has been influential in modeling consciousness and higher-order cognition as emerging from competition and integrated flows of information across widespread, parallel neural processes.
Bernard Baars derived inspiration for the theory as the cognitive analog of the blackboard system of early artificial intelligence system architectures, where independent programs shared information.
Global workspace theory is one of the leading theories of consciousness. While aspects of GWT are matters of ongoing debate, it remains a focus of current research, including brain interpretations and computational simulations.[citation needed]
GWT uses the metaphor of a theater, with conscious thought being like material illuminated on the main stage. Attention acts as a spotlight, bringing some of this unconscious activity into conscious awareness on the global workspace. Baars wrote in his 1997 article "In the Theatre of Consciousness" in the Journal of Consciousness Studies that the concept describes:
[A] stage, an attentional spotlight shining on the stage, actors to represent the contents of conscious experience, an audience, and a few invisible people behind the scenes, who exercise great influence on whatever becomes visible on stage.
The stage receives sensory and abstract information, but only events in the spotlight shining on the stage are completely conscious.
A review of Baars' 1997 book In the Theater of Consciousness: The Workspace of the Mind further described:
Thus peripheral and central sensory stimuli, imagination, and intuition compete for the center of attention, from where they address the unconscious processes of memory, interpretation, automatic routines, and motivation which, in turn, affect the control and context operators running the show from behind the scenes.
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Global workspace theory
Global workspace theory (GWT) is a cognitive architecture and theoretical framework for understanding consciousness and was first introduced in 1988 by cognitive scientist Bernard Baars. It was developed to qualitatively explain a large set of matched pairs of conscious and unconscious processes. GWT has been influential in modeling consciousness and higher-order cognition as emerging from competition and integrated flows of information across widespread, parallel neural processes.
Bernard Baars derived inspiration for the theory as the cognitive analog of the blackboard system of early artificial intelligence system architectures, where independent programs shared information.
Global workspace theory is one of the leading theories of consciousness. While aspects of GWT are matters of ongoing debate, it remains a focus of current research, including brain interpretations and computational simulations.[citation needed]
GWT uses the metaphor of a theater, with conscious thought being like material illuminated on the main stage. Attention acts as a spotlight, bringing some of this unconscious activity into conscious awareness on the global workspace. Baars wrote in his 1997 article "In the Theatre of Consciousness" in the Journal of Consciousness Studies that the concept describes:
[A] stage, an attentional spotlight shining on the stage, actors to represent the contents of conscious experience, an audience, and a few invisible people behind the scenes, who exercise great influence on whatever becomes visible on stage.
The stage receives sensory and abstract information, but only events in the spotlight shining on the stage are completely conscious.
A review of Baars' 1997 book In the Theater of Consciousness: The Workspace of the Mind further described:
Thus peripheral and central sensory stimuli, imagination, and intuition compete for the center of attention, from where they address the unconscious processes of memory, interpretation, automatic routines, and motivation which, in turn, affect the control and context operators running the show from behind the scenes.