Scientific Understanding of Consciousness
Consciousness as an Emergent Property of Thalamocortical Activity
Text Box: Consciousness Subject Outline ‘What is Consciousness?’ Synopsis of My Understanding of Consciousness Introduction to an Understanding of Consciousness Covington Theory of Consciousness Consciousness Consciousness an Emergent Property of Biological Network Core Consciousness Human-type Consciousness Sense of Self Working Memory Dynamic Core Attention Three Topological Networks Thalamocortical System Parallel Pathways Neuromodulatory Systems Thalamocortical System Cortex Thalamus Oscillation, Synchronization Reentry, Recursion Parallel Pathways Link Cortex To Subcortical Appendages Cerebellum Basal Ganglia Hippocampus Neuromodulatory Systems Acetylcholine Neuromodulatory System Noradrenergic Neuromodulatory System Serotonergic Neuromodulatory System Dopaminergic Neuromodulatory System Emotion Limbic System Amygdala involved in Fear Music and Emotion — Movement and Dancing Cognition Reentry, Recursion Bayesian Inference Motivation Nucleus Accumbens Pain and Pleasure Systems Movement FAPs – Fixed Action Patterns Basal Ganglia Cerebellum Motor Cortex Premotor Cortex Neuronal Network Neurons and Synapses Hebbian Assembly -- Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) Stochastic Nature of Neuronal Behavior Populations of Neural Activity Dendritic Spines and Memories Plasticity of Neural Connections Reentry and Recursion Perception Gestalts and Consciousness Gestalt Laws Perception, Memory, Consciousness Perceptual Categorization Sensory Pathways Memory Plasticity of Synapses Hippocampus Declarative Memory Procedural Memory Memory Consolidation Declarative Memory as Reconstruction Declarative Memory Classifications Language Broca Area Wernicke Area Intelligence Multiple kinds of Intelligence Sleep and Dreaming Allan Hobson’s AIM Sleep Model Memory Consolidation Complexity, Self-Organization, Emergence Unconscious Systems Example: Basal Ganglia and FAPs Example: Visual subconscious reaction via superior colliculus Brain Stem — Many ancient nuclei essential for life support Embryonic and Postnatal Development Both Genetics AND Environment Synaptic Plasticity Modified by Experience Prenatal neural development Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence Evolution of Brain Reptile, Mammal, Non-Human Primate, Human Brain Anatomy Modularity of Brain Cortex Limbic System Brainstem Abnormal function of Brain Modeling Brain Functionality Brain is extremely complex; computer simulation provides insight and understanding ______________________________________________________________________________ Index of Topics Sidebar Discussions Further discussion of selected topics Major Concepts of Consciousness Esoteric Terms and Concepts Book References Paraphrases From more than 100 reference books, I show more than 13,000 paraphrase extracts Book References List Includes links to Amazon.com descriptions and reader commentary for each of the book references Link to — Scientific Understanding of Consciousness homepage