4. Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
Integrated Information Theory (IIT), developed by Giulio Tononi, suggests that consciousness arises from a system’s ability to integrate information in a unified whole. IIT assigns a mathematical value, called phi (Φ), to measure how much information a system integrates. The higher the phi, the greater the consciousness. This framework doesn’t just apply to brains—it opens fascinating questions about the potential for consciousness in artificial intelligence and complex networks. Learn more in Nature Reviews Neuroscience.