consciousnessModelR is an educational R package for simulating, visualizing, and explaining simplified computational models inspired by consciousness theories.
The package combines R functions, code tutorials, and a theory guide to help learners explore how different theories describe attention, conscious access, global broadcast, information integration, and threshold-like awareness.
The package provides educational toy simulations for:
- Global Workspace Theory
- Attention and competition models
- Broadcast dynamics
- Information integration
- Threshold-based awareness-like processing
This package does not detect, measure, or create real consciousness. The models are simplified educational abstractions for teaching, science communication, conceptual exploration, and portfolio development.
if (!requireNamespace("remotes", quietly = TRUE)) {
install.packages("remotes")
}
remotes::install_github("NoushinN/consciousnessModelR")library(consciousnessModelR)
sim <- simulate_global_workspace(
n_processes = 8,
steps = 100,
seed = 123
)
head(sim)
plot_consciousness_sim(
sim,
x = "step",
y = "activation",
group = "process"
)The package website includes three main sections:
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Reference | Formal documentation for each R function |
| Code Tutorials | Step-by-step examples showing how to run and interpret simulations |
| Theory Guide | Conceptual chapters explaining the consciousness theories behind the models |
The code tutorials explain how to use the package functions:
- Getting Started
- Global Workspace Simulation
- Attention Competition
- Broadcast Network
- Information Integration
- Threshold Models
- Comparing Theories
- Limitations and Ethics
The theory guide provides academic background for the models:
- What Is Consciousness?
- Global Workspace Theory
- Attention and Competition
- Information Integration
- Broadcast and Conscious Access
- Threshold Models
- Comparing Consciousness Theories
- Limitations and Responsible Use
| Function | Purpose |
|---|---|
simulate_global_workspace() |
Simulates competition among processes and possible global broadcast |
attention_competition_model() |
Simulates priority-based selection among competing signals |
broadcast_network() |
Simulates how selected information spreads across a network |
simulate_information_integration() |
Simulates a simplified integration and differentiation score |
consciousness_threshold() |
Applies a simplified awareness-like threshold to activation values |
plot_consciousness_sim() |
Visualizes simulation outputs |
The full package website is available here:
https://noushinn.github.io/consciousnessModelR/
This package may be useful for:
- teaching consciousness theories
- introducing computational modeling
- comparing theoretical assumptions
- developing educational simulations
- building an academic or technical portfolio
MIT License