The epistemic field is constantly evidencing its own existence. Any action the organism takes—as little as a saccade, a thought, or a breath—confirms to itself that it (the model) exists.

A Beautiful Loop (2024)

Portrait of Ruben Laukkonen

Ruben Laukkonen

Cognitive Scientist and Philiosoper

Dr. Ruben Laukkonen is a cognitive scientist and philosopher whose research focuses on insight, metacognition, and contemplative practices. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he investigates the nature of sudden realizations and their role in problem-solving and creativity. Laukkonen completed his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science at the University of Queensland in 2019. His doctoral work explored the phenomenology and cognitive mechanisms underlying “Aha!” moments and intuitive decision-making. This research has contributed to our understanding of how the brain processes information during moments of insight and creative breakthrough.

In addition to his academic work, Laukkonen is known for bridging scientific inquiry with contemplative traditions. He has conducted studies on meditation and mindfulness, examining their effects on cognitive processes and subjective experiences. His interdisciplinary approach combines methods from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy to shed light on the nature of consciousness and human cognition. Laukkonen's work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Psychological Science and Trends in Cognitive Sciences. He frequently presents at international conferences and has collaborated with researchers across various institutions.

Beyond his research, Laukkonen is committed to science communication. He engages with the public through articles, podcasts, and talks, making complex scientific concepts accessible to wider audiences. His work contributes to ongoing dialogues about the nature of mind, creativity, and human potential.

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A Beautiful Loop

An Active Inference Theory of Consciousness

Laukkonen and Chandaria propose that consciousness arises from a recursive brain process involving three key elements: a reality model, competitive inferences reducing uncertainty, and a self-aware feedback loop. This framework explains various states of awareness, including meditation, psychedelic experiences, and minimal consciousness. It also offers insights into artificial intelligence by connecting awareness to self-reinforcing predictions. The authors’ theory suggests that consciousness emerges when the brain’s reality model becomes self-referential, creating a “knowing itself” phenomenon. This recursive process underlies different levels of conscious experience and potentially informs AI development.

Pure Awareness, Entropy, and the Foundation of Perception

Minimal Phenomenal Experiences (MPEs) represent states of consciousness reduced to their most fundamental elements, posing a unique challenge and opportunity for modeling consciousness.This paper introduces a novel computational framework based on Bayesian and active inference to model MPEs. We propose that MPEs arise when precision weighting shifts predominantly to the lower levels of a hierarchical inferential system, leading to a perceptual state characterized by increased entropy and reduced complexity. Crucially, awareness of this simplified state is maintained through epistemic depth: The reflexive sharing of the organism’s reality model with itself.Therefore, although the contents of consciousness are exceptionally quiet, a reflexive knowing of the empty field of experience remains. We then propose an in silico simulation to test the relation-ship between precision distribution and entropy, outlining how this model could generate syntheticEEG data to empirically validate the theoretical framework. By advancing our understanding of pure awareness through this computational approach, we provide a foundation for future research into the mechanisms underlying various altered states of consciousness, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of conscious experience.