SHANNON'S SURPRISE.SHANNON'S SURPRISE.
Shannon's information theory introduces the notion of a surprise level related to some uncommon configurations among a physical flow of events, just as a sensory alarm links to unexpected predator signs among a psychophysical information flow. Adding to Chalmers we put more weight on sensitivity to alarming conditions than on its evolutive consequences: oriented awareness, access-consciousness and phenomenal conscious experiences.
Information is a mixed state configuration. This mix has a basic structure, and sometimes similar standard contributors to the mix. Danger perception happens after filtering the standard contributors of this mix, and saving those information states that signify danger. Memory or genetic programmed networks add with their contributions to this danger signal. The result is generation of an apt alarm response.
For instance, a string of 10 bits conducts information only if the configuration is comparatively unusual, but does not conduct any if the string appears as the standard one, with little or no fluctuations.
This 10 bits code, has physical reality, since it may be introduced to the physical world and carries information from source to target, through, say, a telephone line or a neural axon apt for EEG signals.
Danger perception is both basic information and a key to alertness. It is a digital string, and due to its unusual sequence, it impacts the normal brain functioning, in a strong way, so much stronger the more extreme is danger. During this episode, the brain's state of information is strictly correlated to a state of introduction to a danger P-conscious experience.
A string with 10 bits standard information codes belongs to Physics. A string with 10 bits extreme danger information codes belongs to Physical-psychophysics. One could say -it is an overstatement- that the filtered string is more consciousness-like than the standard information components. Within the mix the two states may be thought to be unified: the information state and the danger P-conscious experiential state. The cause, the mixed string, is only one. But after filtering, the P-conscious experiental state becomes a brain dictator. It captures a full central attention. The standard information state goes to the periphery of consciousness and finally becomes lost.
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2.feb.1999
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Glosario de Carlos von der Becke.