Consciousness May Depend on the Physics of the Brain, Not Just Code

Key Points:

• A new theoretical study challenges the common metaphor comparing the brain to software, arguing that consciousness arises from the physical material and processes driving computation in biological systems, not just from running the correct code.
• The study introduces "biological computationalism," emphasizing that brain computation involves intertwined physical, electrical, and chemical processes without a clear separation between software and hardware, unlike classical computers.
• Key features of biological computation include multiple interacting processes influenced by changing physical conditions, a lack of distinct computational layers, and energy constraints that shape learning and neural coordination.
• This perspective suggests that building conscious machines may require more than advanced digital algorithms, as biological consciousness depends on real-time physical interactions within living tissue.
• While the study does not rule out artificial consciousness or require carbon