When it comes to the biggest mysteries of the mind—like how consciousness actually works—there are few topics more complicated than the Integrated Information Theory (IIT). It promises a scientific explanation for why our inner experiences feel the way they do. But what if this theory is missing something crucial?
Enter philosopher Azenet Lopez, currently based at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. Alongside her co-author Carlos Montemayor, Azenet has just published a new paper titled “The Integrated Information Theory Needs Attention”—and no, that’s not just a clever play on words. In it, she argues that IIT has overlooked one of the most basic ingredients of conscious experience: attention itself.
Azenet tells us why attention is more than just a mental sidekick, why dreaming and daydreaming aren’t as simple as they seem, and what a better theory of consciousness might look like.
Mi3: Azenet, let’s dive right in. For readers who aren’t perhaps so versed in philosophy or neuroscience, can you explain in simple terms: what’s Integrated Information Theory, and why did you want to challenge it?
Azenet: So, Integrated Information Theory—or IIT for short—is one of the leading scientific theories about what consciousness is. Basically, it says consciousness comes from how parts of a system—like your brain—work together in a very connected, unified way. The more “integrated” the information, the more conscious you are. It’s a fascinating theory! But my co-author Carlos and I noticed a big blind spot: IIT doesn’t properly account for attention, which is crucial in shaping what we’re actually aware of.
Mi3: That’s kind of surprising! So you’re saying you can’t really talk about consciousness without talking about attention? Why is attention so essential?
Azenet: Exactly! Attention is like the spotlight on a theatre stage. Without it, everything would just be a chaotic mess—you wouldn’t know what to focus on. In the brain, attention helps pick and prioritise information. It’s the reason you notice the person waving at you in a crowd, or why you can suddenly zone in on a catchy song. If IIT ignores attention, it misses a huge part of why experiences feel rich, vivid, and detailed—or sometimes vague and dreamlike.
Mi3: Now, your paper talks about something called a “double dissociation” between consciousness and attention. That sounds super technical. Can you break it down for us?
Azenet: Sure! “Double dissociation” is basically the idea that attention and consciousness can exist completely separately—you can have one without the other. Some IIT proponents think that’s true. But we argue that’s wrong. You can have attention without consciousness, sure (like your brain automatically reacting to sounds while you’re asleep). But conscious experience, in our view, needs some form of attention to happen at all. Otherwise, it’s like trying to read a book in total darkness—there’s nothing to actually “experience” in a meaningful way.
Mi3: So if IIT took your advice and included attention properly, how would that change how we think about consciousness overall?
Azenet: I think it would make the theory a lot stronger and more grounded in how our minds actually work day-to-day. It would help explain why being awake and alert feels so different from dreaming, or why paying attention sharpens our experiences. It would also connect consciousness research more closely with real-world phenomena—like disorders of attention or consciousness in medicine. In short, it would make IIT a more complete and useful map of the mind.
Mi3: Last question—what’s one thing you wish everyone knew about consciousness after reading your work?
Azenet: That consciousness isn’t just some magical “on/off” switch! It’s messy, dynamic, and deeply tied to how we filter and prioritise information through attention. Every experience you have—whether it’s daydreaming about vacation or noticing a funny smell—is shaped by what your brain chooses to focus on. Attention is the hidden architect behind the scenes, and it deserves a lot more credit.
Check out the original study and Azenet Lopez’s profile.
References:
Lopez, A., Montemayor, C. The Integrated Information Theory Needs Attention. Erkenntnis (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-025-00949-1