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. 2014 May 8;10(5):e1003588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003588

Figure 7. A mechanism generates integrated information only if it has both integrated causes and integrated effects.

Figure 7

(A) The mechanisms of element A and B are independent, having separate causes and effects. From the intrinsic perspective of the system, the joint mechanism AB does not exist, since it can be partitioned (red dashed line) without making any difference to the system. (B) The mechanism AB generates integrated information both in the past and in the future. Since it cannot be partitioned without loss, it exists intrinsically. (C) The mechanism AB generates integrated information in the past but not in the future. (D) The mechanism AB generates integrated information in the future but not in the past. In both cases, the joint mechanism does not exist intrinsically.