Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:27Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:27
Version 1 2023-06-09, 21:29Version 1 2023-06-09, 21:29
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:27authored byFernando E Rosas, Pedro A M Mediano, Henrik J Jensen, Anil SethAnil Seth, Adam BarrettAdam Barrett, Robin L Carhart-Harris, Daniel Bor
The broad concept of emergence is instrumental in various of the most challenging open scientific questions—yet, few quantitative theories of what constitutes emergent phenomena have been proposed. This article introduces a formal theory of causal emergence in multivariate systems, which studies the relationship between the dynamics of parts of a system and macroscopic features of interest. Our theory provides a quantitative definition of downward causation, and introduces a complementary modality of emergent behaviour—which we refer to as causal decoupling. Moreover, the theory allows practical criteria that can be efficiently calculated in large systems, making our framework applicable in a range of scenarios of practical interest. We illustrate our findings in a number of case studies, including Conway’s Game of Life, Reynolds’ flocking model, and neural activity as measured by electrocorticography.
Funding
The Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science 2019-2021 Leading-edge consciousness science and its application to psychological and neurological health; G2608; SACKLER-DR MORTIMER AND THERESA SACKLER FOUNDATION