scholarly journals The Interstitial Pathways as the Substrate of Consciousness: A New Synthesis

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1443
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
New Synthesis ◽  
Neural Substrate ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Extended Connectivity

This paper considers three classes of analyses of the nature of consciousness: abstract theories of the functional organization of consciousness, and concrete proposals as to the neural substrate of consciousness, while providing a rationale for contesting non-neural and transcendental conceptualizations of consciousness. It indicates that abstract theories of the dynamic core of consciousness have no force unless they are grounded in the physiology of the brain, since the organization of dynamic systems, such as the Sun, could equally well qualify as conscious under such theories. In reviewing the wealth of studies of human consciousness since the mid-20th century, it concludes that many proposals for the particular neural substrate of consciousness are insufficient in various respects, but that the results can be integrated into a novel scheme that consciousness extends through a subcortical network of interlaminar structures from the brainstem to the claustrum. This interstitial structure has both the specificity and the extended connectivity to account for the array of reportable conscious experiences.

scholarly journals Qualitativeness of Consciousness: Genesis of the Problem in Ancient Philosophy

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-153
Author(s):  
M. I. Shcheglova
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Functional Activity ◽  
Ancient Philosophy ◽  
History Of Philosophy ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
Philosophical Discourse ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain

Speaking about the philosophy of mind researchers address the concept of «qualia». In spite of the fact that this term entered the philosophical discourse at the beginning of the 20th century, the legitimacy of its use is still in question. The starting methodological point of the dispute is whether it is necessary to study the quality nature of consciousness separately or we can treat this problem as part of the language description of the functional activity of the brain. One of arguments in favor of the latter point of view is the novelty of the term. The author provides arguments that the problem field of qualia was formed in ancient philosophy. Rethought later as the problem of universals, the idea of the subjectivity of experience accompanies in the history of philosophy the questions related to human consciousness.

Development of Reading Remediation for Dyslexic Individuals

2016 ◽  
Vol 224 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Bédard ◽  
Line Laplante ◽  
Julien Mercier
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Behavioral Data ◽  
Educational Neuroscience ◽  
Reading Remediation ◽  
Functional Brain ◽  
Neurophysiological Data ◽  
Brain Correlates ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Brain

Abstract. Dyslexia is a phenomenon for which the brain correlates have been studied since the beginning of the 20th century. Simultaneously, the field of education has also been studying dyslexia and its remediation, mainly through behavioral data. The last two decades have seen a growing interest in integrating neuroscience and education. This article provides a quick overview of pertinent scientific literature involving neurophysiological data on functional brain differences in dyslexia and discusses their very limited influence on the development of reading remediation for dyslexic individuals. Nevertheless, it appears that if certain conditions are met – related to the key elements of educational neuroscience and to the nature of the research questions – conceivable benefits can be expected from the integration of neurophysiological data with educational research. When neurophysiological data can be employed to overcome the limits of using behavioral data alone, researchers can both unravel phenomenon otherwise impossible to document and raise new questions.

Great Leaders Innovate Teamwork

IJOHMN ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Shweta Purohit
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
New Technique ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
The Brain

Wisdom perpetuates the legend of modernism as a private act, a spark of originality imminent, an Aha! Instant in the brain of a mastermind. People in fact favor to consider in the rough individuality of detection, possibly since they hardly ever get to see the sausage-making process behind every get through modernism. Three decades of investigate has obviously exposed that modernism is most often a group attempt. Thomas Edison, for example, is remembered as almost certainly the most American discoverer of the untimely 20th century. From his productive intelligence came the brightest bulb and the turntable, along with additional than a thousand further untested inventions over a sixty-year vocation. However, he only just worked by yourself. As many have experienced, may be Edison’s most donations were his artisan-oriented shops—a new technique of organizing for innovation he shaped that has evolved into today’s R&D laboratory with its team-based move toward.

The role of science in the study of and response to space threats

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 777-799
Author(s):  
B. M. Shustov
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
The Sun ◽  
National Program ◽  
Biological Hazard ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Space Activities

During the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, space hazards multiplied, the most urgent of which is space debris. Professionals working in space are exposed to this hazard daily and are aware of it as a problem. Furthermore, increasing attention is being paid to the unpredictable behavior of the Sun, which produces the so-called space weather. The asteroid-comet hazard is considered as potentially having the most catastrophic consequences. No manifestations of biological hazard have yet been observed, although as space activities develop, it is becoming increasingly important. The appropriate time scale for astrophysical hazards is many millions of years, so from a practical perspective, they have no importance. This article briefly describes the main types of space hazards. The author analyzes the results of research and practical work in the field, both worldwide and specifically in Russia. Comparative analysis leads to the clear conclusion that a national program must be developed for the study of space hazards and to respond to space threats. This article is based on a report made by the author at the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on January 15, 2019.

scholarly journals The unbalanced reorganization of weaker functional connections induces the altered brain network topology in schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossana Mastrandrea ◽  
Fabrizio Piras ◽  
Andrea Gabrielli ◽  
Nerisa Banaj ◽  
Guido Caldarelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resting State ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Modular Organization ◽  
Node Degree ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Brain Disorder ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
The Brain

AbstractNetwork neuroscience shed some light on the functional and structural modifications occurring to the brain associated with the phenomenology of schizophrenia. In particular, resting-state functional networks have helped our understanding of the illness by highlighting the global and local alterations within the cerebral organization. We investigated the robustness of the brain functional architecture in 44 medicated schizophrenic patients and 40 healthy comparators through an advanced network analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The networks in patients showed more resistance to disconnection than in healthy controls, with an evident discrepancy between the two groups in the node degree distribution computed along a percolation process. Despite a substantial similarity of the basal functional organization between the two groups, the expected hierarchy of healthy brains' modular organization is crumbled in schizophrenia, showing a peculiar arrangement of the functional connections, characterized by several topologically equivalent backbones. Thus, the manifold nature of the functional organization’s basal scheme, together with its altered hierarchical modularity, may be crucial in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This result fits the disconnection hypothesis that describes schizophrenia as a brain disorder characterized by an abnormal functional integration among brain regions.

scholarly journals The Modular Organization of Pain Brain Networks: An fMRI Graph Analysis Informed by Intracranial EEG

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Fauchon ◽  
David Meunier ◽  
Isabelle Faillenot ◽  
Florence B Pomares ◽  
Hélène Bastuji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Integration ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Modular Organization ◽  
Noxious Heat ◽  
Intracranial Eeg ◽  
Brain Connectome ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Intracranial EEG (iEEG) studies have suggested that the conscious perception of pain builds up from successive contributions of brain networks in less than 1 s. However, the functional organization of cortico-subcortical connections at the multisecond time scale, and its accordance with iEEG models, remains unknown. Here, we used graph theory with modular analysis of fMRI data from 60 healthy participants experiencing noxious heat stimuli, of whom 36 also received audio stimulation. Brain connectivity during pain was organized in four modules matching those identified through iEEG, namely: 1) sensorimotor (SM), 2) medial fronto-cingulo-parietal (default mode-like), 3) posterior parietal-latero-frontal (central executive-like), and 4) amygdalo-hippocampal (limbic). Intrinsic overlaps existed between the pain and audio conditions in high-order areas, but also pain-specific higher small-worldness and connectivity within the sensorimotor module. Neocortical modules were interrelated via “connector hubs” in dorsolateral frontal, posterior parietal, and anterior insular cortices, the antero-insular connector being most predominant during pain. These findings provide a mechanistic picture of the brain networks architecture and support fractal-like similarities between the micro-and macrotemporal dynamics associated with pain. The anterior insula appears to play an essential role in information integration, possibly by determining priorities for the processing of information and subsequent entrance into other points of the brain connectome.

Sleep Phenomena from the Perspectives of Islam and Science

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farahwahida Mohd Yusof ◽  
Siti Norlina Muhamad ◽  
Arieff Salleh Rosman ◽  
Sarimah Noor Ahmad ◽  
Nor Farhah Razak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Complex Phenomena ◽  
Scientific Facts ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Taking Care

This article discusses the phenomenon of sleep, with emphasized to its importance, sleeping times, sleeping positions and even the etiquette of sleeping, from the views of Islam and Science. The Quran and Science are inseparable and the relationship between the two is highly balanced. Scientists have said that the phenomena of sleep is a miracle that deserves to be analysed and studied in depth, as it is a complex phenomena. Glory and Praise to be Allah Almighty has decreed in the Quran of the importance of sleep in the day and night, and that sleep is one of the signs of Allah’s Almighty power and is a miracle to be studied by each individual. Islam places great importance on taking care of one’s body and sleep is one need that has to be fulfilled. Scientists have stressed that sleep is needed to rest the brain, improve memory, and increase one’s energy. This shows that Islam places great importance on having productivity and alertness in each individual’s deed. Many scientific facts that had been clearly stated in a fundamental manner in the Quran could only be analysed with the advanced technology of the 20th century. These facts were not known when they were first revealed and are proof that the Quran is the book of Allah Almighty. The view of Islam on the sleep phenomenon is in line with and is according to the findings of contemporary scien

Transfer of consciousness. Considering its possibility or fantasy from the religious and scientific perspectives

DIALOGO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200
Author(s):  
Tudor-Cosmin Ciocan ◽  
Any Docu Axelerad ◽  
Maria CIOCAN ◽  
Alina Zorina Stroe ◽  
Silviu Docu Axelerad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Eternal Life ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
Religious Believer ◽  
Actual Knowledge ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
The World ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Human Feature ◽  
The Brain

Ancient beliefs such as astral projection, human possession, abduction and other similar are not only universal, taught by all religions, but also used as premises for core believes/expectations, such as after-life, eternal damnation, reincarnation, and many others. Transferring Consciousness to a Synthetic Body is also a feature of interest in our actual knowledge, both religious as for science. If immortality were an option, would you take it into consideration more seriously? Most people would probably dismiss the question since immortality isn’t a real deal to contract. But what if having eternal life was a possibility in today’s world? The possibility of the transfer of human consciousness to a synthetic body can soon become a reality, and it could help the world for the better. Thus, until recently, the subject was mostly proposed by religion(s) and saw as a spiritual [thus, not ‘materially real’ or ‘forthwith accomplishable’] proposal therefore not really fully engaged or trust if not a religious believer. Now, technology is evolving, and so are we. The world has come to a point where artificial intelligence is breaking the boundaries of our perception of human consciousness and intelligence. And with this so is our understanding about the ancient question ‘who are we?’ concerning consciousness and how this human feature sticks to our body or it can become an entity beyond the material flesh. Without being exhaustive with the theme's development [leaving enough room for further investigations], we would like to take it for a spin and see how and where the religious and neuroscience realms intersect with it for a global, perhaps holistic understanding. Developments in neurotechnology favor the brain to broaden its physical control further the restraints of the human body. Accordingly, it is achievable to both acquire and provide information from and to the brain and also to organize feedback processes in which a person's thoughts can influence the activity of a computer or reversely.

Еnactivist Criticism of the Neurobiological Theory of Consciousness

2021 ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
Anastasia O. Shabalina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Neural Substrate ◽  
Critical Revision ◽  
Concept Of Information ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Person Experience

The article considers the main arguments against the neurobiological theory of consciousness from the point of view of the enactivist approach within the philosophy of mind. The neurobiological theory of consciousness, which reduces consciousness to neural activity, is currently the dominant approach to the mind-body problem. The neurobiological theory emerged as a result of advances in research on the phenomena of consciousness and through the development of technologies for visualizing the internal processes of mind. However, at the very heart of this theory, there is a number of logical contradictions. The non-reductive enactivist approach to consciousness, introduced in this article, contributes to the existing argumentation against the reduction of consciousness to neural processes with remonstrations that take into account the modern neuroscientific data. The article analyzes the argumentation of the sensorimotor enactivism developed by A. Noe and offers the account of the teleosemantic approach to the concept of information provided by R. Cao. The key problems of the neurobiological theory of consciousness are highlighted, and the objections emerging within the framework of the enactivist approach are analyzed. Since the main concepts on which the neural theory is based are the concepts of neural substrate, cognition as representation, and information as a unit of cognition, the author of the article presents three key enactivist ideas that oppose them. First, the enactivist concept of cognition as action allows us to consider the first-person experience as a mode of action, and not as a state of the brain substrate. Second, the article deals with the “explanatory externalism” argument proposed by Noe, who refutes the image of cognition as a representation in the brain. Finally, in order to critically revise the concept of information as a unit of cognition, the author analyzes Cao’s idea, which represents a teleosemantic approach, but is in line with the general enactivist argumentation. Cao shows that the application of the concept “information” to neural processes is problematic: no naturalized information is found in the brain as a physical substrate. A critical revision of beliefs associated with the neural theory of consciousness leads us to recognize that there are not enough grounds for reducing consciousness to processes that take place in the brain. That is why Noe calls expectations that the visualization of processes taking place in the brain with the help of the modern equipment will be able to depict the experience of consciousness the “new phrenology”, thus indicating the naive character of neural reduction. The article concludes that natural science methods are insufficient for the study of consciousness.

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