Temporal Integration, Bidirectional Criticality and Emergence of Consciousness Hierarchy V37

A hierarchical self-referential closed-loop model of consciousness is constructed from three axioms: finite resources, survival goals, and discrete inputs. The model uses temporal span, reconstruction activity, and closed-loop integrity to derive a five-level consciousness spectrum and distinguish two systems: automated material archiving and temporal self-narrative. Language is identified as a natural metric for these variables, with each grammatically complete sentence forming a micro self-referential loop. The framework provides unified explanations for phenomena including sleepwalking, dreaming, anesthesia, and hierarchical empathy, and proposes a differential diagnostic approach for Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment. Testable experimental hypotheses are offered.

Study at a glance

Abstract

(This is the English version of V37 manuscript, paired with the Chinese full text record in this Zenodo series) Prevailing theories of consciousness predominantly focus on static causal structures while neglecting the 20-watt power constraint of the human brain and the central role of temporal dynamics, rendering them unable to provide a unified account of diverse phenomena such as parasomnias, clinical consciousness disorders, and cross-species hierarchical differences. Starting from three fundamental axioms—finite resources, survival maintenance goals, and discrete inputs—this paper constructs a hierarchical self-referential closed-loop model of consciousness, quantified by three core variables: temporal span T, reconstruction activity A, and closed-loop integrity C.The model derives a two-step emergence geometry of the self-referential loop: folding into a loop (resource convergence) followed by anchoring into a self-surface (self-attribution). It distinguishes between dual systems: System B for automated material archiving and System A for temporal self-narrative, elucidates the dual mechanisms of forgetting and the narrative construction nature of memory, and deduces core rules including three-state gating, downward modulation, and unidirectional information constraints.Based on the bidirectional criticality effect, a five-level consciousness spectrum from L0 to L3 is established. Language is identified as a natural metric for T, A, and C—each grammatically complete sentence constitutes a micro self-referential closed loop. On this basis, a differential diagnostic framework for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment is proposed.The model delivers unified explanations for phenomena including hypoglycemia-induced somatic anxiety, sleepwalking, dreaming, anesthesia, and hierarchical empathy, clarifies the evolutionary prerequisites for consciousness in carbon-based life, defines the generation thresholds of AGI and distributed consciousness, and puts forward testable experimental hypotheses. Compared with prevailing theories, this framework features three original strengths: a unified set of foundational axioms, comprehensive cross-domain explanatory power, and quantifiable variable metrics.This Version 37is the latest compressed official manuscript; all prior full uncompressed drafts (V1–V36) are obsolete and superseded.