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The Extended Brain: Cyclic Information Flow in a Quantum Physical Realm
Abstract and Figures
The present knowledge of the brain neurology, collectively, is insufficient to explain higher mental processes such as (self)-consciousness, qualia, intuition, meditative states, transpersonal experiences as well as ultra rapid brain responses and functional binding between distant parts of the brain. It is proposed that super-causal space-time configurations may function as an interface between molecular transitions and the particular higher mental functions. As super-causal principles, the iso-energetic brain model as well as various quantum brain theories are treated. Isoenergetic states of the brain may enable protein perturbation mediated information processing within a tenth of a millisecond and make use of subjective space-time configuration created in life as an emergent modality of the neural system. In addition, elementary quantum processes are seen as essential for higher brain functions, since our central nervous system forms an integral part of a dynamic universe as a non-local information processing modality. In this respect, quantum physics also allows the build-up of an individual mental knowledge domain on the basis of selfselective imprinting of a geometric space/time dimension, as induced by wave/ particle transitions in the brain. The central hypothesis of the present paper is that a versatile and rapid responding brain function requires complementary information processing mechanisms both at the iso-energetic and quantum (macro- and micro-) levels, enabling bottom up and top down information processing. This requires a nested organization of fine-tuned neural micro-sites that enable coherence/de-coherence transitions as a basis for information transfer. For a rapid and causally effective flux of information, as well as a continuous updating of a personal information domain, a "bi-cyclic" mental workspace is conceived, housing interacting and entangled wave and protein-based perturbations that buildup and retrieve information from a universal knowledge domain.
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... This means that memory is not stored in the biological brain (Oliver & Hari, 2017). Instead, it confirms that it is stored in the immaterial brain, the electromagnetic field that surrounds the bio-logical brain, which in turn interacts with the zero-point field (Meijer & Raggett, 2014;Hari, 2010;Kofatos et al., 2015;Mae-Wan, 1998;Meijer, 2014). The connection, therefore, between conscious mental phenomena and semi-conscious material phenomena occurs through the "coupling" of electromagnetic fields, that is, quantum mechanical interactions (Levin, 2011;Kofatos et al., 2015;Stapp, 1999;Mae-Wan, 1998). ...
... It is worth remembering that Pribram in his theory of quantum holographic memory proposed a brain as a conscious organizer that stores encoded information as a hologram (Meijer & Raggett, 2014;Bischof, 2000;Mae-Wan, 1998). In fact, this theory applied to living organisms would allow the storage of large amounts of information both inside the physical body and outside it, in the zero-point field (Meijer & Raggett, 2014;Meijer, 2014). Undoubtedly, there is a "synchronic interaction" of the "psychic body" or psychosoma, biological organizing model with its endogenous mental field or non-material mind (Kofatos et al., 2015;Guevara Erra et al., 2016). ...
... In this context, these interactions involve processes both on macroscales and on microscales, in the world of subatomic particles, as they occur in holographic information retrieval (Meijer & Raggett, 2014) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thus, quantum holography describes information processing that explains both human intra and intercommunication (Hurtak & Hurtak, 2011;Mae-Wan, 1998) changing our classical world view (Meijer, 2014). ...
... The alternative presented here can be viewed as a development of Wheeler's participatory universe idea (Meijer, 2014), where 'observer-participants' are the source of lawful behavior as the consequence of processes relating physics and meaning, on the basis of a cyclic structure where physical laws lead to the coming into being of participants who, in consequence of the understanding that they have of their situation, are able in turn to influence the laws to which they are subject. The picture proposed here differs in that this kind of observer-participancy is posited to occur at many levels, the simplest being non-linear dynamical systems with a small number of degrees of freedom only. ...
... This has much to do with imagination of how things could work out, in particular if cardinal changes would be made in the assumed prerequisites that underlie the present concept and that may block visions on potential innovation. Information, as a product of interaction thereby exhibits a clear dynamic and active character (see for the general aspect of information: see Meijer, 2012Meijer, , 2013Meijer, , 2014Meijer, , 2015. It was recently pointed out by Langan, 2017, that, intrinsically, in the ongoing process of science endeavour, a metaphysical language will be created that finally should enable a global coupling of mind and physical reality in a language with sufficient expressive power to picture a comprehensive description of reality or even a "theory of everything". ...
In the present review/literature compilation*, we submit that a cosmological acoustical background field underlies the fabric of reality and that this field was and is instrumental in the guiding of biophysical processes during pre-biotic era's, biological evolution, as well as in the world we know now and anticipate in the future. The idea of some recipe for life, seen as a set of primordial rules, has clear connections with the earlier proposed pilot wave theory of David Bohm, who framed the supposed field as an implicate order. Implicitly, such theories invite the question whether they imply a deterministic and even super-deterministic constellation of the cosmos we live in. Of note, the super-determinism debate is related to quantum mechanical properties such as non-locality, the measurement (observer) problem, statistical independence of the observer, potential vectorial influences on a distance, free will (choice) of observers and the potential involvement of hidden variables in quantum physics, all this related to potential violation of Bell's Theorem. The latter item was recently treated by Hossenfelder, Palmer, t' Hooft, and Smolin among many others. We postulate that the initiation and further evolution of the cosmos was predetermined by an underlying information field that is hidden for us and which is considered as primordial attribute of a cyclic (rebounce) universe. This concept was earlier described by us as a symmetry breaking from a 5D sub-quantum phase space, that is connected to a 4D superfluid quantum domain with features of the known Zero-point-energy Field (ZPEF). Our theory can, in principle, be viewed upon as a superdeterministic phenomenon, as currently debated in physics. Yet, we rather propose that potential super-determinism is relaxed by a dynamic information field that is retro-causally updated(back-reaction). This, through choices made by intelligent life systems that collect, use and dissipate information, including the human species. This dynamic process can be envisioned as a permanent retro-causally actualised information domain that is instrumental in the ongoing evolution of our world. This implies a relaxed superdeterministic mode, collectively defined by us as a retro-causally reconstructive universe, that allows human free choice. It is postulated that crucial processes such as the Primordial Creation of our Universe (so-called Big Bang), Anthropic Fine Tuning of the Universe, Biological Evolution and the Manifestation of Consciousness should not be regarded as coincidental, but rather as a manifestation of a Grand Design on the basis of of an Acoustic Cosmic Recipe for guiding the Fabric of Reality.
... En Keppler [65] stelde dat de hersenen een stroom van bewustzijnsmomenten veroorzaken door een permanente interactie met het Zero-Point Energieveld, waarbij overlappende trilling-patronen (attractoren) van het veld en het brein met elkaar resoneren ( fig. 15 B). Ons bewustzijn is op deze wijze impliciet een fundamentele eigenschap van het universum zelf, vanwege deze uitwisseling en integratie van actieve informatie [4,15]. Meijer postuleert [4,15,[30][31][32]37] dat het bewustzijn in ons brein gecoördineerd wordt door middel van EM-velden en dus foton genererende velden die collectief ontstaan uit de elektrische actiepotentialen die in de neuronen worden gevormd ( fig.15 A). ...
... Ons bewustzijn is op deze wijze impliciet een fundamentele eigenschap van het universum zelf, vanwege deze uitwisseling en integratie van actieve informatie [4,15]. Meijer postuleert [4,15,[30][31][32]37] dat het bewustzijn in ons brein gecoördineerd wordt door middel van EM-velden en dus foton genererende velden die collectief ontstaan uit de elektrische actiepotentialen die in de neuronen worden gevormd ( fig.15 A). ...
Samenvatting Muziek is een samenspel van Energie en Informatie. Energie zit in de frequenties van de opeenvolgende of samengestelde tonen terwijl de volgorde van tonen non-materiele informatie omvat. De auteurs poneren de visie dat onze werkelijkheid immer een combinatie is van drie funderende aspecten: Massa, Energie en Informatie en zij laten zien hoe fundamenteel Informatie hierin is. Informatie stuurt de ontwikkeling en de vormen van deeltjes, terwijl energie dit proces aandrijft. Dit is één van de nieuwe inzichten die voortkomen uit de kwantumfysica. Inform -atie vindt men namelijk niet alleen in ruimtelijke vormen en patronen in de natuur, maar ook in groeivormen van planten, in de samenstelling van DNA, maar ook in muziekcomposities. De kwantumfysica lijkt een nieuw perspectief te bieden voor een beter begrip van het brein en het bewustzijn. Informatie is in beginsel namelijk overal in het universum aanwezig als een Universeel bewustzijn. Het menselijk bewustzijn is er onderdeel van. Het kosmisch bewustzijn is fysisch te beschrijven met het bekende holografische principe, uitgaande van een vierde ruimtelijke dimensie. Daarbij formuleren fysici deze extra dimensie als een sub-kwantum informatie-domein, waaruit de evolutionaire ontwikkeling van het universum wordt gestuurd. Dat betreft dus ook de sturing van ecosystemen en van elk samenstellende deel ervan. Deze sturing geschiedt door middel van resonantie van kwantum-trillingen met het Zero-point energieveld waarin alle Informatie is opgeslagen. Bij uitwisseling van informatie speelt het resonantie mechanisme, ook in ons brein, een cruciale rol, Dit informatieconcept is eerder, door de kwantumfysicus David Bohm, natuurfilosofisch en axiomatisch voorgesteld als de niet-materiele impliciete orde ('implicate order'), die vormgeeft aan de actuele expliciete fysieke werkelijkheid. Door de tijd heen gaf de implicate order ook richting en vorm aan de biologische evolutieprocessen. De auteurs gaan nog een stapje verder met het uitgangspunt dat ook de mensheid zèlf participeert in de evolutie. In die visie neemt de mensheid deel aan een cyclisch opererend en zelflerend universum. Deze kwantum-informatie in het universele bewustzijn wordt gezien als het basismechanisme voor het ontstaan van eerste leven in de evolutie, en daar mee is de kwantumtheorie ook in de biologie doorgedrongen. Het bestaan van dit alles omvattende kwantuminformatieveld biedt ook mogelijke verklaringen voor meer intuïtieve communicatie met medemens, plant en dier en mogelijk ook voor buiten
... This has much to do with imagination of how things could work out, in particular if cardinal changes would be made in the assumed prerequisites that underlie the present concept and that may block visions on potential innovation. Information, as a product of interaction thereby exhibits a clear dynamic and active character (see for the general aspect of information: see Meijer, , 2013Meijer, , 2014Meijer, , 2015. It was recently pointed out by Langan, 2017, that, intrinsically, in the ongoing process of science endeavour, a metaphysical language will be created that finally should enable a global coupling of mind and physical reality in a language with sufficient expressive power to picture a comprehensive description of reality or even a "theory of everything". ...
... With regard to the required inspiration of scientists and artists, in their own way of analysing/representing nature, it could be postulated that they both may derive essential information by intuitive mental contact (meditation, serendipity, synchronicity) with an information domain that is supposed to be underlying our three-dimensional local space-time geometry (Meijer, , 2013(Meijer, , 2014. This dynamic electromagnetic field was proposed by David Bohm as an implicate order that through wave interference (so called pilot waves) guides matter in our common (explicate order) world. ...
We present a comprehensive concept for the fabric of reality and the creation of life through the generation and integration of information, modelled through toroidal processing of wave energy. We submit that human consciousness cannot be understood in a reductionist context, but that it is rather an expression of a cosmic modality or a universal consciousness. We therefore introduce a mental attribute of the entire cosmos that for our world, requires a wave-like holonomic description, implying non-material physicalism in a cosmopsychism context. It is postulated that the generation of life in the cosmos requires a symmetry breaking from a 4 th spatial dimension (5-D spacetime) involving a Sub-Quantum domain, that contains information conceptualized as a pro-active ontological essence. Thereby, a multi-layered fractal reality is conceived integrated by a universal toroidal/möbius-ring type of connection. This is described at the level of a sub-Planckian scale, and is instrumental in past/future transactional information processing and pilot-wave guiding. In this framework, the Zero-point Energy Field is seen as a transition zone from the Sub-Quantum domain to our quantum world. In concert they provide an all-pervading superfluid quantum field that enables soliton (electron-phonon quasi-particle)-mediated interaction with non-neural brain compartments, in which hydro-ionic (hydronium ions and Ca2+-ions) are instrumental. In this process, freely moving protons form wave-antennas in the water matrices of the brain that can receive active life-information as the building blocks for conscious moments. Toroidal geometry is also involved in the functional organisation of wave-coherence and interference in brain, to assure a personal memory. In addition, we postulate a global memory workspace, associated with, but not reducible to the brain. This field-sensitive holographic workspace, that exhibits an event horizon information projection, is seen to be involved in predictive coding and quality control of awareness and can be conceived as personal double. The imprinting of life conditions in inanimate (pre-biotic) structures in biological evolution is conceived as a toroidal processing of energy-consciousness providing a non-dual recursive creation of reality. The unfolding of pre-mordial information into the future is described in geometric terms and defined in a "Beyond Fibonacci" type of spiral mathematics that also includes an extra 4 th spatial dimension. Recent studies of others indeed have shown that the creation of life can be conceived as a symmetry breaking of condensed bosons from a 5-D informational phase-space, supposedly through formation of magnetic monopoles in a Hicks setting, again using an essential toric information code. The monopoles, produced in this process, interact with DNA/RNA on the basis of the molecular entities of life such as H2O, carbon and nitrogen-bases, and this supports recent work on the role of oscillatory DNA wave resonance in cellular communication, being crucial for problem solving of life cells for survival in their environment. Boson-mediated symmetry breaking, modelled by toroidal spinor geometry was also described in a bifurcative self-interaction model that assumes supervenience of mental on physical states. It is finally concluded that scale invariant information, being expressed on the holographic event horizons of each individual cosmic entity, provides a unified connective principle that reveals an intrinsic mental aspect of the cosmos.
... Information can be processed at the quantum level orders of magnitude more rapidly than it can be processed classically, and discrete systems make use of phenomena such as superposition, entanglement, and tunnelling to enhance their performance (Meijer and Raggett, 2014;Davies, 2005). Brain function requires complementary information processing mechanisms both at iso-energetic and quantum levels, enabling bottom up and top-down information processing, which requires a nested organization of fine-tuned neural micro-sites that enable coherence/de-coherence transitions as a basis for information transfer (Meijer, 2014). It is well-known that water plays a necessary and key role, and a frequency spectra formula for biomolecules has been derived, starting with water, that are represented by a toroidal structure, such that other elements essential to life, such as oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen can all be fitted into the same formula, dividing it into coherent and de-coherent states (Wong, In all of these processes coherence plays an important role. ...
This study was initiated to establish whether spatio-spectral Eigen-modes of EEG brain waves can be described by an Acoustic Quantum Code of Resonant Coherence, as found by us earlier in a spectrum of animate and inanimate systems. Presently available EEG-and MEG recordings were analyzed as to their peak frequencies in relation to our Quantum Code coherence values. Both the EEG-and MEG studies of healthy persons exhibited quantum coherence of EEG peaks with mean quantum coherence of 0.95 (an average of 90-100% showed coherent peak values), while in patient groups with various mental disorders, a significant decrease of coherence correlation was found. ADHD subjects show a moderate change in peak coherence, being in the range of 1.0 to 0.83, while during epileptic seizures the degree of peak coherence is reduced to a range of 0.94 to 0.75. Depressed patients have EEG peaks with a consistently lower coherence values than healthy persons: 0.77-0.88, while autistic persons show an even lower coherence of 0.50 till 0.75. Patients with severe psychiatric disorders, such as depression, show a coherence of only 0.49-0.61. The importance of EEG brain coherence for conscious states was demonstrated in patients under anaesthesia that exhibited a very low coherence level of about 0.25. The graded loss of brain EEG coherence combined with alterations in Phi based EEG wave separation, can therefore be of value for differentiation in severity and nature of neurological disorders. The value of our frequency algorithm was also shown for trans-cranial therapy: the presently chosen frequencies of rTMS therapy in clinical practice correspond very well with the values of our algorithm. Of interest, the Acoustic Quantum Code pattern was also shown to describe neuronal microtubular (MT) wave frequencies, as measured in vitro by others. MT oscillations were claimed by Hameroff and Penrose to be instrumental in the creation of brain consciousness through alignment with gravity fluctuation at the Planck scale. Our results on brain EEG coherence are therefore discussed in relation to the current models for understanding the nature of (self)-consciousness. We regard the potential relation between neuronal coherence/decoherence balance and conscious states as a central mechanism for producing quantum entanglement in the brain as related to long-distance neuro-communication and brain binding. As postulated earlier, consciousness can be modelled by a 5D brain-associated, toroidal workspace, that provides quality control and monitoring of integral brain function, according to holographic principles and was earlier framed as the "Event Horizon Brain". Consciousness, in this concept, requires photon/phonon mediated and resonant communication with this field-receptive holographic workspace, seen as associated with but not reducible to the human brain. The related brain supervening role of the event horizon workspace requires the collective conscious and unconscious states and realizes a total holographic modality of consciousness that enables effective predictive coding. This 5D, scale invariant, memory workspace, therefore, can be instrumental in the manifestation of Psi phenomena and experiences of cosmic consciousness. At the sub-atomic level, gravity guided quantum tunnelling and coherence of micro-tubular oscillations may produce neuronal entanglement. The latter represents a dominant factor in long distance neural information transfer and functional brain binding. The resulting synchronization of neural network frequencies is likely reflected in the abovementioned brain coherency of EEG peaks, as well as in various mental states that promote feelings of mental wholeness in meditation and psycho-mimetic drug therapy. 2
... This hypothetical mental workspace, depicted with a bidirectional (circular) quantum at the center, and this iso-energetic information flow may be related to Quantum Physics. [21]. ...
The relationship between golden ratio Numbers and genetic codes (Nucleotide bases)
... Sophistry actualized the notion that the observed is no longer identified with reality and is not interpreted as a real part of reality. According to modern scientific ideas, reality lies beyond the observable and, therefore; the scientist constitutes reality through a semantic act rather than perceives it [4][5][6]. However, it must be considered that the specificity of ontological assumptions largely depends on the position of a person and, as a rule, eludes sensory observation. ...
This article is devoted to the philosophical study of the conditions under which knowledge can become a component or tool of education. The presentation of the contribution of epistemology to human development and education is based on addressing issues such as the nature of knowledge, sources of knowledge, theories, and criteria of truth. We proceed from the idea that knowledge is a condition of education. Particular attention is paid to the issue of distinguishing between such types of knowledge as 'knowing how' and 'knowing that'. Educational practices open a common foundation that unites the life world of people, types of sociality, and hermeneutical practices. The epistemological approach to the question of the essence of knowledge assumes that knowledge meets three requirements, namely, knowledge must be objective, subjective, and evidentiary. Epistemology includes subjectivity as the basis of human existence in the natural world and the world with others. Intersubjectivity is considered a criterion for the reliability of knowledge about the world, which allows asserting the relationship of the objective with the subjective.
... Thus, separate from social facilitation or theory of mind, the increased brain activation while practicing MM in pairs may just be the result of expanded consciousness beyond the usual ego boundaries and the limitations of time and space Engelbregt, Alderse Baas, de Grauw, & Deijen (Grof, 2016). It has been argued that transpersonal and extra-sensory events such as intuition might be associated with a multidimensional space/time brain structure, being open to external electromagnetic and quantum fields (Meijer, 2014). Thus, two meditating minds, being part of a universal quantum field, may be connected by electromagnetic fields, reflected by resonance and standing waves. ...
Objective: In this study, we evaluated brain electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in healthy participants during the performance of paired and individual mindfulness meditation (MM). We hypothesized that EEG activity is differentially affected by meditation in pairs compared to individual meditation. Methods: A total of 20 healthy female university students (mean age 19.54 years, SD =1.53) with no prior experience in MM participated in this study. All participants had to perform a 5-minute MM task together and individually while the other participant was in rest or performing a concentration task (control condition). To exclude social interaction as main factor, participants were separated from their research partner by an opaque screen while instructions were given through headphones. Brain electroencephalographic (EEG) activity from each individual student was measured during all conditions. Results: The main findings indicate that left-frontal alpha and theta spectral EEG power was significantly higher during the paired MM condition compared to individual MM and control condition. Conclusions: This controlled MM study demonstrates differences in brain activity between practicing mindfulness in pairs compared to practicing it individually. We conclude that the increased alpha and theta EEG power during paired MM may be associated with social facilitation or the activation of "theory of mind." The results invite further reflection on interpersonal communication and mindfulness.
... Thus, separate from social facilitation or theory of mind, the increased brain activation while practicing MM in pairs may just be the result of expanded consciousness beyond the usual ego boundaries and the limitations of time and space Engelbregt, Alderse Baas, de Grauw, & Deijen (Grof, 2016). It has been argued that transpersonal and extra-sensory events such as intuition might be associated with a multidimensional space/time brain structure, being open to external electromagnetic and quantum fields (Meijer, 2014). Thus, two meditating minds, being part of a universal quantum field, may be connected by electromagnetic fields, reflected by resonance and standing waves. ...
Objective:
In this study, we evaluated brain electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in healthy participants during the performance of paired and individual mindfulness meditation (MM). We hypothesized that EEG activity is differentially affected by meditation in pairs compared to individual meditation.
Methods:
A total of 20 healthy female university students (mean age 19.54 years, SD =1.53) with no prior experience in MM participated in this study. All participants had to perform a 5-minute MM task together and individually while the other participant was in rest or performing a concentration task (control condition). To exclude social interaction as main factor, participants were separated from their research partner by an opaque screen while instructions were given through headphones.
Brain electroencephalographic (EEG) activity from each individual student was measured during all conditions.
Results:
The main findings indicate that left-frontal alpha and theta spectral EEG power was significantly higher during the paired MM condition compared to individual MM and control condition.
Conclusions:
This controlled MM study demonstrates differences in brain activity between practicing
mindfulness in pairs compared to practicing it individually. We conclude that the increased alpha and theta EEG power during paired MM may be associated with social facilitation or the activation of "theory of mind." The results invite further reflection on interpersonal communication and mindfulness.
... We suggested earlier that the fractal brain resembles a personal universe [Meijer, 2014] and that consciousness in the universe may be scale-invariant [Meijer and Geesink, 2017]. The latter does not imply a distinct material fractality in the cosmos, but rather self-similarity in the flux of information. ...
We submit a generalized interpretation of quantum physics on the basis of resolution of quantum indeterminacy, emerging from an integral and simultaneous change of physical relationships at the Planck scale. This model postulates "space-time instants of now" framed by us as "blinks of change" in the physical world. These "instants of now" can only be conceived as permanent conscious moments if they attain sufficient novelty and are regarded by us to be the basic building blocks of scale-invariant consciousness and the fabric of reality. We postulate that a transactional wave interaction of local and nonlocal information occurs within a discrete timeframe between each prior and subsequent "instant of now". The "Standard Reference Frame", created according to our premise, generates a general aspect of quantum entanglement in the universe, thereby providing nonlocal relations that affect all physical change. The proposed quantum physical model not only provides a basis for resolution of quantum uncertainty by causal self-observation of the universe, it also explains the existence of universal consciousness and puts the very nature of time and cause-effect relationships in a new perspective. The concept is conceived as a basic ontology for our cosmos, from which many of the current physical theories for mind/matter reality can be directly derived. It thereby offers insight into the well-known "implicate and explicate order" interpretation of David Bohm as well as the concept of "actual occasions" of Alfred North Whitehead. Our concept bears some similarities with Cramer's Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Physics, but partially differs from a recent hypothesis postulated by Lee Smolin on the nature of Qualia. Importantly, our concept requires a recurrent wave modality that returns to itself that generates an intrinsic aspect of entanglement. This ensures a self-referential information flux that can be fully accommodated by toroidal geometry and intrinsically integrates the aspect of universal consciousness. The toroidal geometry that is implied, allows the access to a 4 th spatial dimension that may reflect a sub-Planckian domain of mathematical relations and geometric forms (phase space), functioning as an implicate order. We believe that the present novel interpretation of quantum physics invites relevant views on individual consciousness of living organisms and their interconnection via cosmic musical master-code.
Human speech consists of a nearly continuous stream of auditory input, so that the semantic message formed by combinations of words must be analyzed as the input continues. The minimum duration signal necessary to identify a set of words was established via the gating technique: Subjects were asked to identify (or guess) words after hearing only the initial 50, 100, or 150 ms, etc. Results showed that most words were identified before their acoustic offset: Average word duration was 600 ms, but identification accuracy was close to 90% after 350 ms of input. The isolation points established in the gating experiment were compared to the time course of semantic integration evident in event‐related brain potentials (ERPs). The gated words were used as congruous and incongruous sentence completions (in their full‐duration versions). Differential ERP responses to contextually appropriate and inappropriate words were observed by 200 ms after word onset, before the acoustic signal was sufficient to uniquely identify the words. These results indicate that semantic integration can begin to operate with only partial, incomplete information about word identity. If time allows, the talk will also describe similarities and differences between the semantic processing of words and environmental sounds.
How does the firing of neurons give rise to subjective sensations, thoughts, and emotions? How can the disparate domains of mind and body be reconciled? The quest for a scientifically based understanding of consciousness has attracted study and speculation across the ages. In this direct and non-technical discussion of consciousness, Dr. Gerald M. Edelman draws on a lifetime of scientific inquiry into the workings of the brain to formulate answers to the mind-body questions that intrigue every thinking person. Concise and understandable, the book explains pertinent findings of modern neuroscience and describes how consciousness arises in complex brains. Edelman explores the relation of consciousness to causation, to evolution, to the development of the self, and to the origins of feelings, learning, and memory. His analysis of the brain activities underlying consciousness is based on recent remarkable advances in biochemistry, immunology, medical imaging, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology, yet the implications of his book extend farther-beyond the worlds of science and medicine into virtually every area of human inquiry.
Many scientists regard mass and energy as the primary currency of nature. In recent years, however, the concept of information has gained importance. Why? In this book, eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians chart various aspects of information, from quantum information to biological and digital information, in order to understand how nature works. Beginning with a historical treatment of the topic, the book also examines physical and biological approaches to information, and its philosophical, theological and ethical implications.
Orch OR ("Orchestrated Objective Reduction") is a theory of consciousness put forth in the mid-1990s by British physicist Sir Roger Penrose and American anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff. Whereas most theories assume consciousness emerges from complex computation at the level of synapses among brain neurons, Orch OR involves a specific form of quantum computation which underlies these neuronal synaptic activities. The proposed quantum computations occur in structures inside the brain's neurons called microtubules.
Contemporary discussions in philosophy of mind have largely been shaped by physicalism, the doctrine that all phenomena are ultimately physical. Here, Jaegwon Kim presents the most comprehensive and systematic presentation yet of his influential ideas on the mind-body problem. He seeks to determine, after half a century of debate: What kind of (or "how much") physicalism can we lay claim to? He begins by laying out mental causation and consciousness as the two principal challenges to contemporary physicalism. How can minds exercise their causal powers in a physical world? Is a physicalist account of consciousness possible? The book's starting point is the "supervenience" argument (sometimes called the "exclusion" argument), which Kim reformulates in an extended defense. This argument shows that the contemporary physicalist faces a stark choice between reductionism (the idea that mental phenomena are physically reducible) and epiphenomenalism (the view that mental phenomena are causally impotent). Along the way, Kim presents a novel argument showing that Cartesian substance dualism offers no help with mental causation. Mind-body reduction, therefore, is required to save mental causation. But are minds physically reducible? Kim argues that all but one type of mental phenomena are reducible, including intentional mental phenomena, such as beliefs and desires. The apparent exceptions are the intrinsic, felt qualities of conscious experiences ("qualia"). Kim argues, however, that certain relational properties of qualia, in particular their similarities and differences, are behaviorally manifest and hence in principle reducible, and that it is these relational properties of qualia that are central to their cognitive roles. The causal efficacy of qualia, therefore, is not entirely lost. According to Kim, then, while physicalism is not the whole truth, it is the truth near enough.
A higher-dimensional space-time model is proposed, accounting for nonlocal quantum phenomena while embracing Special Relativity as a limiting case. The Aspect and Megidish experiments are explained within this space-time framework. Time is understood as spatial motion relative to higher dimensions, offering the degrees of freedom demanded by nonlocal effects along with a consistent milieu for Kaluza's 5-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory. Special Relativity and quantum mechanics converge in the higher dimensions to yield the origins of mass while providing a geometrical mechanism relating mass and space-time curvature (gravity). A consciousness model is introduced within the higher-dimensional space-time framework, integrating elements of physics, psychology, philosophy and metaphysics. Evidence from dreams is shown to correspond to both the physical model and the consciousness model. A theory of perception is presented on the foregoing basis.