From the Phenomenology to the Mechanisms of Consciousness: Integrated Information Theory 3.0
Figure 19
Quantity and quality of experience of a “minimally conscious” photodiode.
(A) The minimally conscious photodiode DP consists of detector element D and predictor element P. D receives two external inputs and has a threshold ≥2. All connections have weight 1. (B) P serves as a memory for the previous state of D and its feed-back to D serves as a predictor of the next external input by effectively decreasing the threshold of D. (C) The MICS specified by the minimally conscious photodiode. D and P both specify a first order concept about the other element. (D) A minimally conscious thermistor or a minimally conscious blue detector with the same internal mechanisms as the minimally conscious photodiode generate the same MICS and therefore have the same minimal experience.