Quantum Aspects of High Dimensional Conceptual Space: a Model for Achieving Consciousness

Abstract

Cognitive frameworks best represent cognitive information and knowledge. Several classical probability theory (CPT)-based cognitive frameworks were proposed in the literature. Recently, CPT has failed in explaining certain cognitive processes while quantum theories were successful in explaining the same. In this work, we integrate two cognitive frameworks namely conceptual spaces and 3-way formal concept analysis (3WFCA) to propose a high dimensional conceptual space (HDCS). Our new insights into the analysis of this proposal reveal its quantum characteristics. Among different cognitive processes that can be modelled, our interest is on phenomenal consciousness. Accordingly, we have proposed a formal method to achieve consciousness. We have also proposed an algorithm for the conceptual scaling of a cognitive scenario. HDCS represents a cognitive state using quality dimensions, attributes and their relations. Subsequently, the proposed model makes novel use of agent-environment interaction paradigm for guiding the interaction of HDCS with conceptually scaled cognitive scenario. Cognitive-state representation in HDCS is analogous to quantum state representation in a N-qubit system. Cognitive states are learnt through the parallel accumulation of evidences against all the attributes of multiple dimensions. The interaction between the HDCS and the scenario facilitates the identification and removal of uncertainties. The identified uncertainty coupled with its resolution time resembles Heisenberg-like uncertainty. The analogous of quantum two-slit self-interference would be comparison of evidence accumulation in HDCS with the preceding version of itself. Consequently, this research reveals that modelling consciousness requires a high dimensional space rather than set theoretic structures and support from quantum theories.