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Binding and Consciousness from an Intrinsic Perspective

LEIDEN UNIVERSITY, vdvelde{at}fsw.leidenuniv.nl

The problem of visual feature binding and the unity of an object in visual consciousness is discussed in relation to the account of these phenomena presented by interactive hierarchical structuralism. It is argued that the binding problem should be studied and solved from the intrinsic perspective, given by the information that is available within the system (i.e., brain) itself. This kind of information is always local. Therefore, the intrinsic perspective induces a process approach to solving the binding problem which depends on global information processed in different areas within the brain. The interaction between feedforward and feedback activity in the visual cortex is a process that solves the binding problem of visual features. A similar process could underlie visual awareness and the unity of an object in visual consciousness. It results in a sequential form of awareness, in which the awareness of one of the features of an object induces the awareness of its other features.

Key Words: attention • awareness • binding • consciousness • intrinsic perspective • process approach to binding • visual features

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