全局工作空间理论的控制论表述
A Control-Theoretic Formulation of Global Workspace Theory
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中文总结 AI 辅助
该研究提出控制论框架下的全局中介工作空间（GMW），将其作为全局工作空间的形式化表述，通过合成基准与猕猴ECoG记录验证其可区分中介与其他网络结构，并揭示麻醉下意识状态变化对应的特征差异。
中文摘要 AI 辅助
全局工作空间理论将意识通达解释为选定信息向网络其余部分的广播，但该理论缺乏识别实现此通达的机制的正式标准。我们提出全局工作空间是一种中介，即一个子网络，它接收分布式系统的活动，通过内部模式对其进行转换，并向更广泛的网络返回差异化效应。我们将这一主张形式化为全局中介工作空间（Global Mediation Workspace, GMW），这是一种控制论表述，其中候选子网络被视为嵌入网络其余部分的开放系统。在该框架中，可达性表征网络其余部分驱动候选子网络的方式，可观测性表征候选子网络状态影响其余部分的方式，而边界汉克尔算子则识别连接两个方向的内部模式。所得特征量化了中介能力、输入-输出对齐度、有效维度以及路由的源-目标广度，每个特征分别表征全局工作空间的不同组成部分。在合成基准测试中，我们检验该特征是否能区分植入的差异化中介与密集枢纽、单向接收器或广播器，以及无共同内部路由的分离读写聚合体。一种非线性扩展通过轨迹条件微分算子、有限振幅响应轮廓和状态依赖联盟来表征中介。作为初步应用，我们估计了四只猕猴在氯胺酮麻醉下的ECoG记录中的特征。我们发现，无意识期间输入-输出对齐度降低，而潜在能力则增加。因此，GMW为在神经记录中定位候选全局工作空间，以及探究中介的哪些方面对意识通达至关重要，提供了正式且可检验的标准。
英文摘要
Global workspace theory explains conscious access as the broadcasting of selected information to the rest of the network, but it lacks a formal criterion for identifying the mechanism that enables this access. We propose that a global workspace is a mediator, namely, a subnetwork that receives activity from distributed systems, transforms it through internal modes, and returns differentiated effects to the broader network. We formalize this claim as the Global Mediation Workspace (GMW), a control-theoretic formulation in which a candidate subnetwork is treated as an open system embedded in the remainder of the network. In this framework, reachability characterizes how the remainder can drive the candidate, observability characterizes how candidate states affect the remainder, and a boundary Hankel operator identifies the internal modes linking the two directions. The resulting signature quantifies mediation capacity, input-output alignment, effective dimensionality, and routed source-target breadth, each of which characterizes different components of global workspace. In synthetic benchmarks, we tested whether the signature can distinguish a planted differentiated mediator from dense hubs, one-sided receivers or broadcasters, and a split read/write aggregate with no common internal route. A nonlinear extension characterizes mediation through trajectory-conditioned differential operators, finite-amplitude response profiles, and state-dependent coalitions. As a preliminary application, we estimated the signature from ECoG recordings in four macaques under ketamine anesthesia. We found that input-output alignment was reduced during unconsciousness whereas potential capacity was increased. The GMW thus provides a formal and testable criterion for locating candidate global workspaces in neural recordings and for asking which aspects of mediation is crucial for conscious access.
