Path Integral Model Links Cognitive Cost Optimization to Consciousness
A new paper on arXiv (2607.24807) develops a mathematical framework for cognitive cost optimization using a path-integral model of consciousness. The authors model goal-directed cognition as imaginary-time evolution under a projector Hamiltonian that rewards configurations matching a target concept. They prove three results: the evolution coincides with a double-bracket flow and is the Riemannian gradient flow of a Hilbert–Schmidt cost with a unique minimum; a Wick rotation transforms this non-unitary descent into an equivalent unitary evolution with an exact discrete path-integral representation where the oracle and initial-state diffusion projector act as potential and kinetic energy; and the continuum from unconscious to conscious processing is identified with the strength of unitary interaction between the cognitive system and its environment.
Key facts
- Paper ID: arXiv:2607.24807
- Announce type: cross
- Models cognitive cost optimization as imaginary-time evolution
- Uses projector Hamiltonian rewarding target-consistent configurations
- First result: ITE coincides with double-bracket flow
- Second result: Wick rotation yields unitary evolution with path-integral representation
- Third result: unconscious-to-conscious continuum tied to unitary interaction strength
- Published on arXiv
Entities
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- arXiv