Filament Core of Consciousness: A Hierarchical Model of Qualia and Metacognitive Awareness

This paper proposes the Filament Theory of Consciousness, which defines consciousness not as the resultant of information integration or global broadcasting, but as an autonomous computational thread that operates independently of sensory input.Major existing theories such as Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) treat sensory integration and large-scale network activity as necessary and sufficient conditions for consciousness. However, these frameworks conflate two fundamentallydifferent aspects: the contents of consciousness (rendering) and the observing subject (core).In this study, a phenomenological case study of transient cerebral ischemia (orthostatic faintness) is used to analyze the sequential dissociation of perception, spatial coordinates, and motor control. Even under extreme conditions in which external sensory rendering becomes severely degraded and the large-scale integrative processes assumed by existing theories collapse, a lucid metacognitive observer persists. This persistent structure is here interpreted as a modalityindependent core process, referred to as the Filament Core. From a neurophysiological perspective, we conceptualize this core as a thalamo-frontal resonant thread characterized by frontal midline theta oscillations (Fmθ). Building on recent findings in human subcortical recordings, we propose that Fmθ represents a vertical phase-locking between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and high-order thalamic nuclei, forming an autonomouscomputational unit. We further propose a functional and metabolic decoupling between this lowfrequency, energy-efficient core and the high-cost, parietal alpha-dependent rendering layer responsible for body ownership and perceptual integration. Within this framework, ordinary consciousness is defined as an embedded state, while Minimal Phenomenal Experience (MPE) is understood as the core's persistence during complete rendering collapse. Based on this distinction, we propose a revision of diagnostic paradigms for disorders of consciousness (DOC). Rather than relying solely on observable behavioral outputs, the presence of this thalamo-frontal theta resonance serves as a physiological indicator of preserved internal consciousness. This model therefore introduces a new clinical and ethical framework for evaluating the persistence of consciousness in individuals who have lost both sensory integration and external responsiveness.