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Integrated Information Theory explained

Seeing | Neuroscience | 2026-02-13

Medical Brain Scans on Multiple Computer Screens. Advanced Neuroimaging Technology Reveals Complex Neural Pathways, Display Showing CT Scan in a Modern Medical Environment

How is it possible that the cerebellum, which contains roughly 80% of all the neurons in the human brain, can be severely damaged, or even absent, without abolishing consciousness? In this conversation, Jeremiah Hendren, a member of the Integrated Information Theory (IIT) Lab and long-term collaborator of IIT founder Giulio Tononi, joins Hans Busstra to unpack Integrated Information Theory (IIT), a theory that answers this fascinating neuroscience mystery.

A comprehensive knowledge base and resource for learning IIT: https://www.iit.wiki
A list of essential IIT scientific papers: https://www.iit.wiki/papers
The lab of Giulio Tononi, the main developer of IIT: https://centerforsleepandconsciousness.psychiatry.wisc.edu

0:00 Introduction
3:33 Can IIT give us a consciousness test?
9:07 Integration and differentiation of consciousness, compared to a ZIP file
12:42 What does “integration” mean in integrated information theory?
15:00 Computational and “Skinner box” theories of consciousness vs IIT
18:46 Francis Crick’s work
21:46 Why LLMs and computers can’t be conscious according to IIT
30:21 How to measure phi
34:07 As intelligence goes up, consciousness goes up as well
44:49 When neurons are inactive but not inactivated
58:18 Unfolded cause–effect structures
1:00:49 Realism in IIT terms
1:08:56 The intrinsic perspective of neurons
1:13:43 Trying to understand the unfolded cause–effect structure
1:15:56 On the metaphysical implications of IIT
1:21:44 Consciousness beyond brains
1:28:09 Are AIs neuromorphic or not?
1:29:32 Measuring integration mathematically
1:34:00 Drawing the exact boundary of a conscious entity
1:35:44 Isn’t IIT too brain-focused?
1:44:05 Larger configurations of consciousness: group minds and hive minds
1:46:54 Mystical-type experiences and IIT

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