Unified theory of consciousness

The Unified Theory of Consciousness (UTC), a mechanistic framework proposing that consciousness arises from recursive feedback loops between perception and memory. It defines two core loops: a short loop, which generates moment-to-moment awareness by comparing current sensory input with immediate memory echoes, and a long loop, which integrates autobiographical memory, emotional context, and identity to create the experience of selfhood and continuity over time. The theory explains qualia as a product of dynamic perceptual contrast, describes the emergence of ego as a recursive resonance of memory and language, and aligns with developmental neuroscience by mapping loop formation to stages of infant consciousness. UTC offers testable predictions and outlines the architecture for modeling conscious AI systems.