Christof Koch: The neural correlates of being the world
Special guest in dialogue with Bernardo Kastrup, 29th of July
Christof is one of the most celebrated figures in consciousness science, renowned for his groundbreaking work alongside Francis Crick (Nobel prize winner for co-discovery of the DNA double helix) and spearheading the modern search for the neural correlates of consciousness.
A prolific researcher, author, and public intellectual, he has played a central role in shaping the field, earning widespread recognition for bringing serious scientific attention to questions once thought purely philosophical. His leadership at the Allen Institute and his championing of Integrated Information Theory have positioned him as a visionary voice at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and the nature of mind.
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) attempts to account for consciousness by identifying and mathematically modeling the intrinsic structure of information that gives rise to subjective experience.
In recent interviews and dialogues—including with Bernardo— Christof has recently reflected on the limitations of physicalist explanations for consciousness.
Respectively, whilst once critical of IIT, Bernardo Kastrup now believes it's recent iterations could map how universal consciousness dissociates into seemingly separate minds, and provide insight into the experience of Mind at Large. He gave an introduction to IIT and these ideas last week which you can see here:
Amir Giles
As always, your comments and questions below will help shape the event, with some questions chosen for dialogue.
You can the recording of the 2024 dialogue here:
About Christof
Christof Koch was the president and chief scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle where he remains as a Meritorious Investigator. He is known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from neuroscience, physics, and philosophy to tackle the complex problem of consciousness. His work has been published in over 350 scientific papers, significantly shaped modern understanding of the neural correlates of consciousness and visual perception.
In collaboration with Francis Crick, Christof initiated the modern search for the neuronal correlates of consciousness, a systematic experimental program to identify the minimal bio-physical mechanisms jointly sufficient for any one specific conscious percept. In collaboration with Giulio Tononi, he co-developed the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness.
29th July:
6-8pm UK time / 7-9pm CET / 1-3pm EST