Erik Hoel

Erik Hoel is an American neuroscientist, author, and research assistant professor at Tufts University. Formally trained in Giulio Tononi’s laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Hoel specializes in causal emergence, information theory, and the theoretical foundations of consciousness.

In landmark papers in PNAS and Entropy, Hoel developed the mathematical framework of Causal Emergence. Using effective information measures, he demonstrated that coarse-grained macroscopic states can have greater causal power and less noise than their underlying microphysical elements, resolving fundamental paradoxes of reductionism. In The World Behind the World (2023) and his work on the “Overfitted Brain Hypothesis,” Hoel explores how dreams prevent cognitive overfitting.

Hoel’s formulation of the “Kleiner-Hoel Dilemma” in 2026 outlines the mathematical constraints governing continual learning, causal structure, and consciousness in large-scale artificial neural networks.

Known for. Formal theory of Causal Emergence (macro over micro causation), The Overfitted Brain Hypothesis of Dreams, The World Behind the World (2023), The Kleiner-Hoel Dilemma

Coverage on this site

• The Kardashev scale as an energy budget for growing consciousness October 2026
• Dreaming and Consciousness From David Foulkes to World Models September 2026
• Erik Hoel Kleiner-Hoel Dilemma Continual Learning Consciousness LLM Disproof August 2026

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Erik Hoel is listed with the other integrated information theorists, who hold that consciousness is intrinsic causal power, measured as integrated information. The theory family behind that position is set out in the index of consciousness theories. Every researcher covered on this site is indexed in the directory of consciousness researchers.