Sizing Up Consciousness by Its Bits

Researchers want to build a meter that can measure consciousness as easily as body temperature.

"Consciousness, Dr. Tononi says, is nothing more than integrated information. Information theorists measure the amount of information in a computer file or a cellphone call in bits, and Dr. Tononi argues that we could, in theory, measure consciousness in bits as well. When we are wide awake, our consciousness contains more bits than when we are asleep."
 NYTimes.com /continue reading