How Could Conscious Experiences Affect Brains

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How Could Conscious Experiences Affect Brains?

Max Velmans
How Could Conscious Experiences Affect Brains Book PDF

Author : Max Velmans
Publisher : Imprint Academic
Page : 100 pages
File Size : 47,9 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Consciousness
ISBN : 0907845398

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How Could Conscious Experiences Affect Brains? by Max Velmans Pdf

In daily life we take it for granted that our minds have conscious control of our actions, at least for most of the time. But many scientists and philosophers deny that this is really the case, because there is no generally accepted theory of how the mind interacts with the body. Max Velmans presents a non-reductive solution to the problem, in which 'conscious mental control' includes 'voluntary' operations of the preconscious mind. On this account, biological determinism is compatible with experienced free will. Velmans' theory is put to the test by nine critics: Ron Chrisley, Todd Feinberg, Jeffrey Gray, John Kihlstrom, Sam Rakover, Ramakrishna Rao, Aaron Sloman, Steve Torrance and Robert Van Gulick.

The Structure of Conscious Experience

Lee Roy Beach
The Structure of Conscious Experience Book PDF

Author : Lee Roy Beach
Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Page : 132 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2019-08-15
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781527538559

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The Structure of Conscious Experience by Lee Roy Beach Pdf

There must exist a point at which the molecular and electro-chemical processes that comprise brain function are transformed into rich, orderly conscious experience which seamlessly blends the present moment, what led up to it, and what will follow it. This is the stuff of our everyday lives, and it raises questions about its organization and how that organization facilitates engagement with the world at large. In short, what is the structure of conscious experience and what is gained by it being structured that way? This book argues that the structure is what is familiarly known as narrative form and that the gain is the ability to communicate about one’s experience with oneself and others, as well as to make informed predictions about what will happen in the fundamentally unknowable and potentially dangerous future. In the latter case, because the essence of narrative form is time and causality, structuring events from memory (the past) and from perception (the present) in narrative form causally implies future events (expectations). The potential threat (the bad or the absence of good) of these expected future events can be assessed, and, if required, action can be taken to prevent their occurrence or to diminish their impact. The implications about thinking and action, and about who we are as individuals, are also discussed here.

Mind Time

Benjamin Libet
Mind Time Book PDF

Author : Benjamin Libet
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 273 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2005-10-28
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780674265431

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Mind Time by Benjamin Libet Pdf

Our subjective inner life is what really matters to us as human beings--and yet we know relatively little about how it arises. Over a long and distinguished career Benjamin Libet has conducted experiments that have helped us see, in clear and concrete ways, how the brain produces conscious awareness. For the first time, Libet gives his own account of these experiments and their importance for our understanding of consciousness. Most notably, Libet's experiments reveal a substantial delay--the "mind time" of the title--before any awareness affects how we view our mental activities. If all conscious awarenesses are preceded by unconscious processes, as Libet observes, we are forced to conclude that unconscious processes initiate our conscious experiences. Freely voluntary acts are found to be initiated unconsciously before an awareness of wanting to act--a discovery with profound ramifications for our understanding of free will. How do the physical activities of billions of cerebral nerve cells give rise to an integrated conscious subjective awareness? How can the subjective mind affect or control voluntary actions? Libet considers these questions, as well as the implications of his discoveries for the nature of the soul, the identity of the person, and the relation of the non-physical subjective mind to the physical brain that produces it. Rendered in clear, accessible language, Libet's experiments and theories will allow interested amateurs and experts alike to share the experience of the extraordinary discoveries made in the practical study of consciousness.

The Mysterious Flame

Colin Mcginn
The Mysterious Flame Book PDF

Author : Colin Mcginn
Publisher : Basic Books
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2000-04-26
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0465014232

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The Mysterious Flame by Colin Mcginn Pdf

In recent years the nature of consciousness—our immediately known experiences—has taken its place as the most profound problem that science faces. Now in this brilliant and thoroughly accessible new book Colin McGinn takes a provocative position on this perplexing problem. Arguing that we can never truly "know" consciousness—that the human intellect is simply not equipped to unravel this mystery—he demonstrates that accepting this limitation in fact opens up a whole new field of investigation. In elegant prose, McGinn explores the implications of this Mysterian position—such as the new value it gives to the power of dreams and introspection—and challenges the reader with intriguing questions about the very nature of our minds and brains.

The Conscious Brain

Jesse Prinz
The Conscious Brain Book PDF

Author : Jesse Prinz
Publisher : OUP USA
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2012-09-27
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780195314595

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The Conscious Brain by Jesse Prinz Pdf

The Conscious Brain brings neuroscientific evidence to bear on enduring philosophical questions. Major philosophical and scientific theories of consciousness are surveyed, challenged, and extended.

Towards a Deeper Understanding of Consciousness

Max Velmans
Towards a Deeper Understanding of Consciousness Book PDF

Author : Max Velmans
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
Page : 242 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2016-10-14
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781315516769

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Towards a Deeper Understanding of Consciousness by Max Velmans Pdf

In the World Library of Psychologists series, international experts themselves present career-long collections of what they judge to be their finest pieces - extracts from books, key articles, salient research findings, and their major practical theoretical contributions. In this volume Max Velmans reflects on his long-spanning and varied career, considers the highs and lows in a brand new introduction and offers reactions to those who have responded to his published work over the years. This book offers a unique and compelling collection of the best publications in consciousness studies from one of the few psychologists to treat the topic systematically and seriously. Velmans’ approach is multi-faceted and represents a convergence of numerous fields of study – culminating in fascinating insights that are of interest to philosopher, psychologist and neuroscientist alike. With continuing contemporary relevance, and significant historical impact, this collection of works is an essential resource for all those engaged or interested in the field of consciousness studies and the philosophy of the mind.

Discovering the Brain

National Academy of Sciences,Institute of Medicine,Sandra Ackerman
Discovering the Brain Book PDF

Author : National Academy of Sciences,Institute of Medicine,Sandra Ackerman
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 195 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 1992-01-01
Category : Medical
ISBN : 9780309045292

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Discovering the Brain by National Academy of Sciences,Institute of Medicine,Sandra Ackerman Pdf

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

The Conscious Brain

Jesse J. Prinz
The Conscious Brain Book PDF

Author : Jesse J. Prinz
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2012-08-17
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780199718139

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The Conscious Brain by Jesse J. Prinz Pdf

The problem of consciousness continues to be a subject of great debate in cognitive science. Synthesizing decades of research, The Conscious Brain advances a new theory of the psychological and neurophysiological correlates of conscious experience. Prinz's account of consciousness makes two main claims: first consciousness always arises at a particular stage of perceptual processing, the intermediate level, and, second, consciousness depends on attention. Attention changes the flow of information allowing perceptual information to access memory systems. Neurobiologically, this change in flow depends on synchronized neural firing. Neural synchrony is also implicated in the unity of consciousness and in the temporal duration of experience. Prinz also explores the limits of consciousness. We have no direct experience of our thoughts, no experience of motor commands, and no experience of a conscious self. All consciousness is perceptual, and it functions to make perceptual information available to systems that allows for flexible behavior. Prinz concludes by discussing prevailing philosophical puzzles. He provides a neuroscientifically grounded response to the leading argument for dualism, and argues that materialists need not choose between functional and neurobiological approaches, but can instead combine these into neurofunctional response to the mind-body problem. The Conscious Brain brings neuroscientific evidence to bear on enduring philosophical questions, while also surveying, challenging, and extending philosophical and scientific theories of consciousness. All readers interested in the nature of consciousness will find Prinz's work of great interest.

The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness

Max Velmans,Susan Schneider
The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness Book PDF

Author : Max Velmans,Susan Schneider
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 765 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2008-04-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780470751459

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The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness by Max Velmans,Susan Schneider Pdf

With fifty-five peer reviewed chapters written by the leading authors in the field, The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness is the most extensive and comprehensive survey of the study of consciousness available today. Provides a variety of philosophical and scientific perspectives that create a breadth of understanding of the topic Topics include the origins and extent of consciousness, different consciousness experiences, such as meditation and drug-induced states, and the neuroscience of consciousness.

Danish Yearbook of Philosophy

Finn Collin
Danish Yearbook of Philosophy Book PDF

Author : Finn Collin
Publisher : Museum Tusculanum Press
Page : 102 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2005-07
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 8763502895

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Danish Yearbook of Philosophy by Finn Collin Pdf

Danish Yearbook of Philosophy - Volume 39

Understanding Consciousness

Max Velmans
Understanding Consciousness Book PDF

Author : Max Velmans
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 723 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2009-03-26
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781134095230

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Understanding Consciousness by Max Velmans Pdf

Understanding Consciousness, 2nd Edition provides a unique survey and evaluation of consciousness studies, along with an original analysis of consciousness that combines scientific findings, philosophy and common sense. Building on the widely praised first edition, this new edition adds fresh research, and deepens the original analysis in a way that reflects some of the fundamental changes in the understanding of consciousness that have taken place over the last 10 years. The book is divided into three parts; Part one surveys current theories of consciousness, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Part two reconstructs an understanding of consciousness from first principles, starting with its phenomenology, and leading to a closer examination of how conscious experience relates to the world described by physics and information processing in the brain. Finally, Part three deals with some of the fundamental issues such as what consciousness is and does, and how it fits into to the evolving universe. As the structure of the book moves from a basic overview of the field to a successively deeper analysis, it can be used both for those new to the subject and for more established researchers. Understanding Consciousness tells a story with a beginning, middle and end in a way that integrates the philosophy of consciousness with the science. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on how to address the problems of consciousness and as such, will be of great interest to psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists and other professionals concerned with mind/body relationships, and all who are interested in this subject.

Process Approaches to Consciousness in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Philosophy of Mind

Michel Weber,Anderson Weekes
Process Approaches to Consciousness in Psychology Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind Book PDF

Author : Michel Weber,Anderson Weekes
Publisher : State University of New York Press
Page : 491 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2009-11-18
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781438429427

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Process Approaches to Consciousness in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Philosophy of Mind by Michel Weber,Anderson Weekes Pdf

Opens a dialogue between process philosophy and contemporary consciousness studies.

Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction

Susan Blackmore
Consciousness A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Susan Blackmore
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 176 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2005-03-24
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780191578052

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Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction by Susan Blackmore Pdf

Consciousness, 'the last great mystery for science', has now become a hot topic. How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting new developments in brain science are opening up debates on these issues, and the field has now expanded to include biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers. This controversial book clarifies the potentially confusing arguments, and the major theories using illustrations, lively cartoons, and experiments.Topics include vision and attention, theories of self and will, experiments on action and awareness, altered states of consciousness, and the effects of brain damage and drugs. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Beyond the simple contrastive analysis: Appropriate experimental approaches for unraveling the neural basis of conscious experience

Jaan Aru,Talis Bachmann
Beyond the simple contrastive analysis Appropriate experimental approaches for unraveling the neural basis of conscious experience Book PDF

Author : Jaan Aru,Talis Bachmann
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
Page : 131 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2015-06-26
Category : Consciousness
ISBN : 9782889195473

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Beyond the simple contrastive analysis: Appropriate experimental approaches for unraveling the neural basis of conscious experience by Jaan Aru,Talis Bachmann Pdf

Contrasting conditions with and without conscious experience has served consciousness research well. However, research based on this simple contrast has led to controversies about the neural basis of conscious experience. One key reason for these ongoing debates seems to be that the simple contrast between conditions with and without consciousness is not specific for unraveling the neural basis of conscious experience, but rather also leads to other processes that precede or follow it. Acknowledging this methodological problem implies that some of the previous research findings about the neural underpinnings of conscious experience are actually reflecting the prerequisites and consequences rather than the direct correlates of conscious perception. Thus, it is required to re-evaluate the previous results to find out which of them are telling us anything about the neural basis of consciousness. But first and foremost, to overcome this methodological problem we need new experimental paradigms that go beyond the simple contrastive analysis or find the ways how some older but well forgotten paradigms may foster a new look at this emerging problem. Accordingly, this research topic is looking for empirical and theoretical contributions that: 1) envision new and suitable experimental approaches to study consciousness that are free from the limitations of the simple contrastive analysis; 2) provide empirical data that help to separate the neural correlates of conscious experience from the prerequisites and consequences of it; 3) help to re-assess previous research findings about the neural correlates of conscious perception in the light of the methodological problems with the traditional contrastive analysis. We hope that the theoretical insights and experimental approaches collected within this Research Topic help us to gain a more refined understanding of the neural basis of conscious experience.

Beyond Neural Correlates of Consciousness

Morten Overgaard,Jesper Mogensen,Asger Kirkeby-Hinrup
Beyond Neural Correlates of Consciousness Book PDF

Author : Morten Overgaard,Jesper Mogensen,Asger Kirkeby-Hinrup
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 227 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2020-07-26
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781351793490

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Beyond Neural Correlates of Consciousness by Morten Overgaard,Jesper Mogensen,Asger Kirkeby-Hinrup Pdf

Drawing on neuroscientific research and metacognitive theory, this groundbreaking volume examines the theoretical implications that are elicited when neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) are identified. The relationship between consciousness and the brain has concerned philosophers for centuries, yet a tacit assumption in much empirically minded consciousness research seems to be that if we can only develop a map of correlations, no further questions remain to be asked. Beyond Neural Correlates of Consciousness starts where others stop, by asking what these correlations may tell us about the nature of consciousness. The book contains chapters considering the upshots of finding the neural correlates of consciousness in light of the most prominent contemporary theories in the field. This illuminates the theoretical consequences of succeeding in the quest for the neural correlates of consciousness from the perspective of global workspace theory, higher-order thought theory, local recurrency theory, and REFCON models, in addition to considering how this quest is shaped by different conscious phenomena, such as dreaming, altered states of consciousness, and different levels of consciousness. This insightful text features sophisticated theories that goes beyond correlational inferences and neural mapping, and will be of interest to students and researchers of consciousness, particularly those interested in interpreting neural correlates.