Consciousness. A scientific inquiry

 Blog:

Consciousness.

A Scientific Inquiry.

P.K.Ghatak, MD

No.62.

A flood of research papers was published recently on Consciousness. Behind the enthusiasm is a hard competition for leading a race to equip Robots with consciousness.

In the past, such interests were generated when Neuroimaging technology was developed and particularly the “functional MRI” was introduced. The next wave of research papers followed after the publication of Dr. Jane Goodall's research on the social interactions and behavioral characteristics of the chimpanzees. Dr. Goodall discovered that Chimpanzees use tools, possess complex social behaviors and exhibit emotions like us.

Many researchers inspired by Goodall, began working with subjects not limited only to the primates but also to birds, insects and even molluscans. One could recall Paul, the octopus who correctly picked the winning jersey of teams, 12 out of 14 times, when World Cup (soccer) was played in 2010 in Germany.

What is consciousness.

In the medical field, the Anesthesiologists are rendering patients unconscious for the surgeon's knife and then waking them up. To learn about consciousness, it is a good place to begin.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists define consciousness as a state of wakeful awareness involving the capacity to process information from the surroundings and demonstrate purposeful responses to stimuli. When a person undergoes anesthesia and then wakes up, the person does not remembers a thing during the period he laid unconscious. The brain and the rest of the body remianed alive but consciousness was not. Question then where the conciousness went or how to define consciousness.

From the early days of neurology, we learned two types of actions: 1, Reflex actions where only local neuronal circuit is involved without any influence of higher centers.2, Voluntary action requires active participation of several nerve centers. One center analyses incoming sensation, the next one localizes its origin, the third center deducts the possible causes and formalizes the best action and gives order to the spinal ganglion to act by movements of the volunary muscles.

Going back to Paul the octopus – was Paul acted similar to a voluntary action or just in a random way. To determine that - the neuroimaging can solve which can differentiate between the two. If the higher brain centers were involved, the center would have lighted up in the functional MRI scan.

In an elegant experiment conducted by the scientists at Ruhr University, Germany. They placed a rooster in a chicken ware enclosure. A shadow of a hunting eagle was projected on the roof of the box. The experiment ran three times under three different conditions.

In the No.1 run, the rooster was alone.

In the No.2 run, the roosters saw many chickens outside through the chicken ware box.

In the No.3 run, the rooster saw his reflections on mirrors placed all around within the box.

In the first instance, the rooster sounded an alarm to warn his fellow chicken then took defense action. In the 2nd and 3rd times the rooster did not sound an alarm but took defensive action.

In the second run of the experiment, the rooster realized that other chickens outside the box were at risk and on the 3rd run, the rooster recognized the reflection on the mirrors of his own.

The brains of birds are structured differently than humans. In place of the cerebral cortex the birds possess a Neopallium Coaudolaterale. 1.(see foot note)

This experiment satisfied all the elements set forth to call an action as a conscious action. If creatures other than humans also possess consciousness, then where does consciousness resides.

In Human:

The location for consciousness in the brain of humans has changed and continues to evolve. At present two locations in the cerebral cortex are prime locations. The posterior-occipital areas, including parts of the temporal and parietal cortices and prefrontal cortex. The posterior part of the cortex probably deals with sensory input and its interpretation, and the anterior part of the cortex is responsible for formulation of action and execution of the response. These two centers are interconnected and also connected with thalamus. The role of thalamus is modulatory rather than primary action. Most researchers believe, when information is widely distributed over the brain by the interconnecting network, then it reaches the conscious level. These interconnecting neuronal networks are called Tegmentum of the midbrain and the upper part of the hind brain. As shown in the diagram.

This point to a location where consciouness is found but not the nature of conciousness.

The Anesthesiologists take a conscious person and put him through 3 stages- induction of anesthesia, maintenance of the unconscious stage and recovery of full consciousness. The arousal states reflect the overall state of activities in the brain. Conscious awareness is a more dynamic and complex process involving several cerebral networks and centers.

Scientific inquiry deals with verifiable facts.

In recent publications on communication between nerve cells, a new way, called Ephaptic coupling is documented. Ephaptic communication between neuron to neurons is by touching. Electromagnetic diffusion of information passes from one neuron to other neurons. This method is 5,000 times faster than Synaptic firing between neurons. Given the total number of neurons human brain have, 125 billion transmissions take place in the time one synaptic transmission is completed. It is known that retinal Rods and Cones have no synaptic connections and because of the Ephaptic coupling these receptors of light are able at send information at a very fast rate over a wide bandwidth, without this method of communication we will not be able to see. The electromagnetic field generated by neuronal communications in a location can be considered the house of consciousness, and a specific pattern within the electromagnetic field is consciousness for that individual.

This system is the reason humans have consciousness and animals with much smaller brain have not.

There are two other views of consciousness are mentioned here.

1, Naturalistic dualism: It is proposed by Philosopher David Chalmers. He argus the brain is not generating consciousness. The brain processes information as sensations in different areas of the brain - one location for color, another for shape and size, still another area for smoothness or shine so on and as forth. Whereas the person finds only one objective experience - like and dislike, love or hate etc. The question is how subjective brain functions become one objective experience. Science has no answer. He proposes consciousness is fundamental and physical attributes are derived from it.

2, Leonard Sussskin, a quantum physicist says in the quantum world there is superposition and multiple possible locations all at once until a conscious observer begins watching it, Then the position becomes one. At the same time in it different in another location of observation. He thinks the consciousness and material world are two aspects of the same reality. It is known as Panpsychicism.

The topic Consciousness initially was in the religious domain. One can find many detailed discussions on consciousness in Sanatan Dharma (Hindu religion) and Buddhist Book of religious discourses. Much later Philosophers tried their hands and now science is trying to settle it with verifiable evidence. This short essay is only for someone interested in science.

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Footnote, 1, The caudate nucleus and palladium of birds, functionally represent in humans in the prefrontal cortex.

Footnote 2. Three additonal views about consciousness are very briefly mentioned here.

1, Naturalistic dualism proposed by Philosopher David Chalmers. He argues that the brain does not generate consciousness; the brain processes information as sensations, but the task is carried out in different areas of the brain - one area determine color, another area shape and size and yet another area soft or hardness and so and so forth. Whereas, the person finds only one objective experience, either likes it or dislike, love or hate etc. Question is how the subjective brain functions become one objective experience.

Science has no answer. Chalmers proposes consciousness is fundamental. Consciousness in primary and all physical attributes are derived from it.

2, Leonard Susskin, a quantum physicist says in the quantum world there is superposition and multiple possible locations all at once until a conscious observer watches it. Then  then it becomes one. At the same time it may be different in another location of observation. He proposes the consciousness and material world are two aspects of the same reality. It is known as Panpschysim.

3, Each individual cells of the body generates consciousness and remembers. Problem remains, if one considers that all human cells of the body are repaced in variable frequency and by the 7th year all are replaced. Then how the new cell remembers old events.

One can easily conclude that science has a long way to go to find the nature of human consciousness.