Poster Presentation title & abstracts

1. Yuka Mizuno (Nagoya University) "Emotional Reactions to Gender Identity Threat: An Experimental Investigation in Japan"

Abstract: Despite the central role of gender as a core social identity worldwide, individuals differ in their responses to threats to this identity. A common view in the Western literature proposes that because manhood is a socially precarious status—one that requires continual validation and is easily undermined—men exhibit greater anger and more aggressive behavior in response to gender threats than women. However, it remains unclear to what extent this assumption generalizes across cultural contexts. In the present study, Japanese participants completed a series of quizzes designed to assess their masculinity and femininity, after which they received condition-dependent feedback. In the gender-affirming condition, participants were informed that their masculinity and femininity scores were above the population average and fell within the majority range for same-gender participants. Conversely, in the gender-threat condition, they were informed that their scores were below the population average and fell within the minority range for the same-gender participants. Then, participants reported their levels of anger, negative affect, and positive affect. Gender identity threat increased anger and negative affect, whereas no effects on positive affect were observed. Importantly, participant gender did not moderate any of these effects. Together, these findings indicated that gender identity threat heightens anger and negative affect, while raising questions about the hypothesized gender differences in responses to gender identity threats.

2. Yujie Li (Kyoto University) "Cross-modal Attention Orienting in Relation to ADHD-like Traits"

Abstract: Attention efficiency varies substantially across individuals. This study investigates the interplay between cross-modal attentional orienting and ADHD-like traits (Inattention, Verbal Hyperactivity/Impulsivity and Motor Hyperactivity/Impulsivity), treating these traits as continuous characteristics within the general population rather than clinical diagnoses.

We employed a cueing paradigm manipulating cue validity, modality, Stimulus Onset Asynchrony (SOA), and eccentricity to assessorienting effects. Results indicate that auditory cues produced the most significant orienting effects, particularly at larger eccentricities (30°) with short SOAs (0.1s), where the effect size diminished as SOA increased. Conversely, visual orienting effects were not significant overall.

Regarding individual differences, under specific spatiotemporal conditions (30°/0.1s and 10°/0.3s), Inattention scores positively correlated with visual orienting effects, whereas Verbal Hyperactivity/Impulsivity scores correlated negatively at 10°/0.1s condition. However, auditory orienting effects did not reach statistical significance in relation to ADHD traits.

Our data imply a potential divergence between attentional modalities. While visual orienting appeared sensitive to individual variations in inattention and hyperactivity, auditory orienting seemed relatively stable across the trait spectrum. These initial observations raise the question of whether auditory cues could provide a comparatively stable means of orienting attention, a possibility that warrants further investigation.

3. Yumi Hughes (University of Tokyo) "Improvised Theater and Consciousness: Cognitive Processes of Co-creative Narrative Generation in Highly Uncertain Environments"

Abstract: Improvised theater necessitates real-time narrative co-construction in the absence of scripts or prior consultation. This study investigated performers’ conscious experiences through retrospective interviews and time-series analysis of dialogue.　Following performances by professional actors, introspective utterances were classified into six perspectives (inter-rater κ=.89). Improvised theater performers frequently transitioned among perspectives, with the “playwright perspective” (54.1%) predominating, whereas scripted theater exhibited a prominent “actor perspective” (67.9%, p<.001).　Analysis revealed three principal characteristics: performers inferred co-performers’ intentions from nonverbal cues while consciously embedding their own intentions in dialogue; inference misalignments functioned as catalysts for novel ideation; and performers continuously identified emergent problems, contributing additional information to collaboratively guide narratives toward resolution. Notably, performers introduced narrative discontinuities when inferring partners lacked ideas, or implicitly attempted redirection when finding partners’ directions undesirable.　Time-series analysis of pauses (“ma”) demonstrated that improvised performance exhibited higher temporal unpredictability, as measured by Kullback-Leibler divergence, and greater local variability. These findings suggest that improvised theater provides an ecologically valid paradigm for investigating mechanisms of conscious intention-sharing and interpersonal coordination.

4. Hiroki Kanno (Hokkaido University) "How the community shapes the prediction-based self"

Abstract: According to the free energy principle, the self is constituted through predictive processes enacted by embodied agents situated within their environments. However, the self is not only embodied and environmentally embedded, but also socially constituted. The aim of this poster presentation is to elucidate how the self is formed within a community by drawing on the free energy principle. This is accomplished by extending the free energy principle—originally concerned with the biological imperative of survival—to the level of the community, thereby clarifying not only how communities emerge from collectives of individuals, but also how communities, in turn, exert formative influences on individuals. Such an extension can be situated within the context of Vygotsky’s sociocultural approach, which holds that higher human cognitive functions are constituted through social and cultural interactions. Drawing on this perspective, I argue that the formation of the self through sociocultural interactions is an outcome of the minimization of free energy at the community level. Accordingly, research on prediction-based accounts of the self can be pursued not only at the level of the individual, but also at the level of the community.

5. Taiga Shinozaki (University of Tokyo) "An LLM-based corpus analysis on the terms related to phenomenal consciousness"

Abstract: Philosophers of consciousness often rely on ordinary expressions such as ‘experience’ and ‘what it is like’ (WIL) to characterize phenomenal consciousness. Critics have long challenged the informativeness and innocence of WIL talk. They argue that it typically refers to general situations or states rather than specifically to phenomenal conscious states. Recent work in experimental philosophy has begun to empirically test these claims, suggesting that ordinary uses of WIL and ‘experience’ rarely refer to phenomenality. However, existing studies are limited by small sample sizes and by reliance on the authors’ own classifications. This raises concerns about representativeness and potential authors’ bias. To address these limitations, we employ a large language model (LLM) to classify large-scale corpora of ordinary language usage. By scaling beyond manual methods and reducing authors’ bias, the LLM-based analysis provides a more accurate picture of ordinary usage. The results indicate that both WIL and ‘experience’ primarily refer to non-phenomenal notions. These findings undermine the claim that such expressions informatively and innocently lexicalize the concept of phenomenal consciousness. To evaluate the reliability of LLM-based coding, we compared Cohen’s kappa between human-human and human-LLM annotation on a subset of the same task. We found no significant difference between these kappas, suggesting that the LLM achieves human-level agreement. This supports the use of LLMs as a scalable tool for experimental philosophy.

6. Kento Ikeda (University of Osaka) "Rethinking Mind-Body Interactionism: Popper’s Theory of Consciousness and Its Challenges"

Abstract: In modern philosophy of mind, few researchers support interactionism, the view that the mind or consciousness and the body, especially the brain causally act upon each other. This does not mean, however, that the importance of interactionism today is denied, even if some form of materialism or physicalism in academic circles has become increasingly dominant with the rapid progress of the natural sciences. Karl Popper, who worked mainly in the 20th century, is one of the philosophers who defended interactionism. The insight that led Popper to adopt this position is still regarded as important among scholars of his philosophy, and continues to be actively studied. Nevertheless, in the mainstream of contemporary philosophy of mind, although the evolution of consciousness is taken seriously by many researchers, Popper’s teachings and views on the evolution of consciousness and the interaction between consciousness and the brain are largely neglected. Therefore, as the first step toward a general re-examination of mind-body interactionism, this presentation introduces the basic ideas of Popper’s interactionism, and considers the main issues Popper’s theory currently faces.

7. Ryuzo Hirota (University of Tokyo) "Monoid Theory of Self: A Category-Theoretic Approach to Selfhood Across Domains"

Abstract: We intuitively attribute selfhood to phenomena ranging from unicellular organisms to human consciousness. To uncover the commonality underlying these intuitions, we propose the Monoid Theory of Self (MTS), framed in the language of category theory. MTS characterizes the self not as a substance or function, but as a monoid of mediation—a category with a single object where morphisms represent ""mediations"" (counterfactual dependencies of the form ""without A, no B""). Specifically, the self is defined as an essentially empty locus of composition that enables the continuation or transition of self-mediating loops, while lacking any inherent content or function of its own.
MTS offers a middle ground between philosophical extremes. By acknowledging that individual loops of mediation inextricably involve the non-self and lack any intrinsic boundary therein, MTS avoids traditional substantialism. Simultaneously, by grounding the self in the mutual composability of these loops, we transcend eliminativism, which reduces the self to a mere illusion. In MTS, the self is an ongoing succession of mediation where the possibility of composition defines ""identity."" This reverses the traditional priority, where prior coherence or integrity is typically required before composition can be defined.
The utility of MTS is demonstrated by reframing selfhood across two primary domains: first, biological autonomy, traditionally formulated as a closure or circularity of causality; and second, the phenomenological self, viewed as the empty center that structures intentional experiences. Furthermore, we provide a provisional exploration of the bodily self and discuss the resonance with the Buddhist approach to (non-)self. Ultimately, MTS characterizes the self as a compositional closure of activity, providing a unified basis for understanding selfhood across diverse domains."

8. Kiyofumi Miyoshi (Kyoto University) "Unequal-variance signal detection analysis with response time data"

Abstract: This study explores signal detection theory (SDT) analysis of perceptual detection performance using response time (RT) data. Detection tasks often exhibit asymmetry between stimulus-present and stimulus-absent trials, typically reflected in asymmetric type-1 ROC curves. This asymmetry indicates greater signal variability in stimulus-present trials, violating the equal-variance assumption of the conventional SDT model. We analyzed multiple datasets using an unequal-variance SDT model based on RT data and compared these results with standard confidence-based analyses. SDT parameter estimates derived from RT—the mean difference (μ) and the standard deviation ratio (σ)—closely matched those obtained from confidence ratings. Sensitivity, quantified as dₐ (an unequal-variance extension of d′), was highly consistent regardless of whether it was computed from RT or confidence data. Notably, conventional d′ systematically misestimated detection performance relative to dₐ, depending on observers’ response bias. These findings indicate that RT-based SDT analysis offers an efficient approach for estimating internal variance structure and evaluating perceptual detection performance.

9. Taro Maeda & Akiyoshi Hara (University of Osaka) "Consciousness as the Recall of Functional Networks: The Eigenfunction Synchronicity Model (ESM) of Cortical Self-Organization"

Abstract: We propose the Eigenfunction Synchronicity Model (ESM), a theoretical framework that treats the entire cerebral cortex as a single associative memory network governed by wave dynamics. In this model, the cortex is defined as a closed oscillatory field with uniform lateral inhibition, where sensory and motor inputs act as boundary conditions. These inputs generate standing waves within the cortical field. We hypothesize that structural Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity (STDP) occurs selectively at the nodes of these standing waves, forming mesh-like connections that function as a selective, bidirectional multilayer perceptron (MLP).
Crucially, the ESM explains the self-organization of cortical functional areas: primary sensory cortices emerge near the boundaries (proximal to peripheral signal spaces), whereas higher-order association areas develop in the central regions (distal from all peripherals). In this framework, cognitive functions are realized through the transient reconstruction of these MLPs via associative memory. Consequently, we argue that ""consciousness"" is not a static entity but the dynamic state of recalling these functional networks. This model offers a novel methodological approach to understanding how subjective experience and functional hierarchy emerge from the fundamental physical principles of wave mechanics and neural plasticity. 

10. Lana Okubo (Kyoto University) "Bridging Attentional Boosting and Subjective Inflation: Toward an Integrated Theory of Attention and Consciousness"

Abstract: In recent years, scholars have raised concerns that “attention” has come to denote a collection of loosely related mechanisms, undermining theoretical clarity. A similar fragmentation can be observed in consciousness research. ”Attentional boosting” reflects the long-standing assumption in cognitive science that attention enhances conscious perception. Specifically, attended stimuli are experienced as more intense than unattended ones, for example appearing higher in contrast or saturation. In contrast, recent studies have reported the phenomenon of “subjective inflation”, in which unattended stimuli can become more detectable, challenging the traditional view that attention facilitates awareness. Although attentional boosting and subjective inflation both describe how attention modulates conscious experience, they have not yet been integrated within a unified framework. One plausible reason for this lack of integration is that these two phenomena have been investigated under different experimental paradigms. For instance, subjective inflation has primarily been investigated using near-threshold stimuli, whereas attentional boosting has typically been examined with relatively strong stimuli. Moreover, subjective inflation research has typically employed paradigms engaging endogenous attention, whereas attentional boosting has mainly been explored in paradigms engaging exogenous attention. Here, we systematically compare the experimental paradigms of the two lines of study and propose an experimental design that allows us to examine these two phenomena within a single framework. We also conducted a computational simulation for this experiment using signal detection theory. Our simulation demonstrates that, if attention increases the mean of the evidence distribution and decreases the variance, the two phenomena can emerge simultaneously. In yes/no detection, the increased variance in the unattended condition raises the probability of a weak stimulus producing evidence exceeding the threshold, providing a mechanistic explanation for subjective inflation. In contrast, variance shows a limited impact on comparative judgment, and the elevated mean of attended compared to unattended distributions yields the typical attentional boosting effect.

11. Yoshinori Nanjo (RIKEN) "Neural representations of metacognitive adaptation in perceptual decision-making"

Abstract: In recent years, scholars have raised concerns that “attention” has come to denote a collection of loosely related mechanisms, undermining theoretical clarity. A similar fragmentation can be observed in consciousness research. ”Attentional boosting” reflects the long-standing assumption in cognitive science that attention enhances conscious perception. Specifically, attended stimuli are experienced as more intense than unattended ones, for example appearing higher in contrast or saturation. In contrast, recent studies have reported the phenomenon of “subjective inflation”, in which unattended stimuli can become more detectable, challenging the traditional view that attention facilitates awareness. Although attentional boosting and subjective inflation both describe how attention modulates conscious experience, they have not yet been integrated within a unified framework. One plausible reason for this lack of integration is that these two phenomena have been investigated under different experimental paradigms. For instance, subjective inflation has primarily been investigated using near-threshold stimuli, whereas attentional boosting has typically been examined with relatively strong stimuli. Moreover, subjective inflation research has typically employed paradigms engaging endogenous attention, whereas attentional boosting has mainly been explored in paradigms engaging exogenous attention. Here, we systematically compare the experimental paradigms of the two lines of study and propose an experimental design that allows us to examine these two phenomena within a single framework. We also conducted a computational simulation for this experiment using signal detection theory. Our simulation demonstrates that, if attention increases the mean of the evidence distribution and decreases the variance, the two phenomena can emerge simultaneously. In yes/no detection, the increased variance in the unattended condition raises the probability of a weak stimulus producing evidence exceeding the threshold, providing a mechanistic explanation for subjective inflation. In contrast, variance shows a limited impact on comparative judgment, and the elevated mean of attended compared to unattended distributions yields the typical attentional boosting effect.

12. Azusa Inomata & Soichiro Kinoshita (University of Tokyo) "Measuring Phase Transitions in Interaction: A Response-Based Approach to Subjectivity"

Abstract: How can approaches that examine subjectivity from within be connected to methods that analyze it from an external, objective perspective? This study proposes a method for making measurable the phase transitions of responses that occur in social interaction, without directly objectifying the contents of subjective experience. The specific contents of subjectivity—such as meanings, beliefs, norms, values, culture, and habits—belong to the domain of interpretation and cannot be directly observed, manipulated, or verified within natural scientific frameworks. In contrast, responses can be understood as partial externalizations of subjectivity, mediated through orientation, recognition of constraints, and processes of re-selection. As such, responses occupy an intermediate domain in which interpretation and measurement can be meaningfully connected. Based on this perspective, the present study conceptualizes interaction as a dynamic structure of reciprocal actions and reactions. It introduces the Responsive Scale-6 (RS-6) as a measurement tool designed to capture intuitive, moment-to-moment changes in response stability during ongoing interaction. By operationalizing response quality along six qualitative dimensions, RS-6 enables the visualization and comparison of response trajectories across participants and interactional contexts. Combined with response-theoretical analysis, this approach allows researchers to identify points at which interactions stabilize, destabilize, or shift direction. In doing so, the study offers a methodological bridge between interpretive analyses of subjectivity and empirical approaches to complex, non-linear interaction, providing a new basis for examining agency and responsiveness in social processes.