Implications of Noise on Neural Correlates of Consciousness: A Computational Analysis of Stochastic Systems of Mutually Connected Processes.

Random fluctuations in neuronal processes may contribute to variability in perception and increase information capacity in neuronal networks. This paper develops a stochastic model to examine how noise affects dynamical systems that mimic neural correlates of consciousness. Power spectral densities and spectral entropy values were computed for systems with varying numbers of mutually connected processes. Spectral entropy decreased linearly as the number of processes doubled, and power spectral density frequencies shifted to higher values with increasing system size, indicating a greater impact of negative feedback loops and regulation in larger systems. The results suggest that large dynamical systems of mutually connected and negatively regulated processes are more robust against inherent noise than small systems.

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Abstract

Random fluctuations in neuronal processes may contribute to variability in perception and increase the information capacity of neuronal networks. Various sources of random processes have been characterized in the nervous system on different levels. However, in the context of neural correlates of consciousness, the robustness of mechanisms of conscious perception against inherent noise in neural dynamical systems is poorly understood. In this paper, a stochastic model is developed to study the implications of noise on dynamical systems that mimic neural correlates of consciousness. We computed power spectral densities and spectral entropy values for dynamical systems that contain a number of mutually connected processes. Interestingly, we found that spectral entropy decreases linearly as the number of processes within the system doubles. Further, power spectral density frequencies shift to higher values as system size increases, revealing an increasing impact of negative feedback loops and regulations on the dynamics of larger systems. Overall, our stochastic modeling and analysis results reveal that large dynamical systems of mutually connected and negatively regulated processes are more robust against inherent noise than small systems.