Step 6: Calculate the Omega value based on PI and CI
The last step is to calculate the CC’s capacity for phenomenal content, or what we can label simply as “consciousness.” To obtain this figure we multiply PI and CI to obtain the omega value, Ω, which is the end result of this heuristic framework for quantifying the capacity for phenomenal consciousness (Eq. 4). Omega is calculated as a simple product of PI and CI.
            Eq. 4. π x \(\psi\) = Ω
Accordingly, the PCC’s capacity for phenomenal consciousness is the product of its perceptual bandwidth and its internal connectivity. This equation is a potentially powerful tool for gaining real knowledge of subjective experience because knowledge of two of the variables allows us to calculate the value of the third variable. The rationale for this equation is simple: each percept is, upon being incorporated into the CC, incorporated, at least to some degree, into all of its processing nodes. Keep in mind that the processing nodes in the CC in each iteration are determined by the spatial extent Eq.1: xc = m/cycle.
As a simple example, we can focus on an artificial neural network consisting of 100 “neurons.” We can postulate a CI value of 2, in order to demonstrate how this equation works. A CI of 2 indicates that each node is rather slow at sending its possible data to all other connected nodes. And we assume that electrical currents are the energy/causal connection responsible for such information flow between these artificial neurons. We can also postulate a PI value of 1, based on the paucity of data we feed this information-starved mini-network. With CI=2 and PI=1 we calculate an Omega value of 2 (1 x 2 = 2), far down the scale from 0 to 100. Under the criteria described thus far, this simple network would have a commensurately simple phenomenal capacity.
Recalling our estimated PI value of 3 and CI value of 4 for the fruit fly’s visual system, we obtain an Omega of 12, on a scale of 0 to 100, for the same fruit fly’s visual system. In actuality, of course, there is no separation of senses in the complex entity that is a fruit fly. But, again, this is a simplified example to illustrate the formalisms offered here.
Table 2 provides a few more examples of possible Omega values. It is important to stress that these are speculative examples of how the framework may be applied in the future. All values provided are rough estimates and based on a normalized scale from 0 to 100.
Table 2. Possible examples of various Omega values.