Conference Agenda

The concept of the Reflective Nexus offers a developmental account of how consciousness, metacognition, and theory of mind are intrinsically interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Rather than treating metacognition and theory of mind as isolated, domain-specific, or late-emerging abilities, I argue that they are best understood as developmental expressions of consciousness itself—its self-reflective and other-reflective dimensions, respectively, as they unfold over time. The Reflective Nexus is introduced as a novel theoretical construct proposed within the framework of a new, unified, and recursive model of cognitive development. This integrative model synthesizes elements from three foundational theories—Developmental Priorities Theory, which maps the evolving interplay between executive functions, reasoning and intelligence; Representational Redescription, which explains how implicit forms of knowledge are progressively transformed into explicit, flexible, and manipulable representations; and the Global Workspace Model, which views consciousness as a dynamic hub for global cognitive coordination and integration. Within this view, consciousness functions as a developmental interface —a regulatory and representational medium through which cognitive processes are continually reorganized across time. As children mature, consciousness supports the transition from context-bound, procedural learning to increasingly explicit, generalized, and flexible representations of both self and others. Metacognition operates as a higher-order regulatory process, while theory of mind reflects the intersubjective extension of reflective awareness into the social domain. By framing metacognition and theory of mind as processes that both shape and are shaped by consciousness, the Reflective Nexus clarifies cognitive development as a dynamic, recursive process governed by the organization and refinement of reflective awareness.