On Consciousness and Integrated Information: An Interview with Christof Koch

This article is a translation of an interview with renowned neuroscientist Christof Koch, focusing on the nature of consciousness. Koch, former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, is a leading proponent of Integrated Information Theory (IIT). The discussion explores scientific efforts to identify the 'neural correlates of consciousness'—the specific brain regions that activate during conscious perception. The author explains how understanding these processes could lead to a fundamental theory explaining the emergence of consciousness. Koch shares his views on why it is easier to possess consciousness than to define it scientifically, and how modern research brings us closer to solving this mystery. The interview also touches upon his recent book regarding the expansion of our understanding of consciousness. This material will be of interest to anyone following developments in neuroscience and the philosophical aspects of studying the human mind.