Interaction Model of Brain and Consciousness

2018 ◽  
pp. 105-126
Author(s):  
Georg Northoff
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Nancy Cartwright ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
The Brain

In addition to the spectrum model, I also introduced an interaction model to characterize the brain’s neural activity (chapter 2). Is the interaction model of brain also relevant for consciousness? That is the focus in the present chapter. I here present various lines of empirical evidence focusing on disorders of consciousness like vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep. Based on empirical evidence, I show that the degree of non-additive interaction between spontaneous and stimulus-induced activity indexes the level of consciousness in a seemingly rather fine-grained way; for that reason, it may be considered a neural correlate of the level of consciousness, i.e., NCC. In contrast, the spontaneous activity and its spatiotemporal structure is rather a necessary condition of possible consciousness, that is, a neural predisposition of consciousness (NPC). The concept of NPC is further enriched by the concept of capacities for which I recruit Nancy Cartwright. I suggest that the brain’s non-additive interaction including the subsequent association of stimulus-induced activity with consciousness is based on the spontaneous activity’s capacity. Since that very same capacity, operating as NPC, can be traced to the spontaneous activity’s spatiotemporal features, I speak of “spatiotemporal capacity”. I conclude that the empirical data suggest a capacity-based approach (rather than law-based approach) to the brain and how it is related to consciousness.

Spectrum Model of Brain and Consciousness

2018 ◽  
pp. 79-104
Author(s):  
Georg Northoff
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Loss Of Consciousness ◽  
Hybrid Nature ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Spectrum Model ◽  
Spatiotemporal Integration

Is the spectrum model of brain and its assumption of the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity relevant for consciousness? That is the focus in the present chapter. I here present various lines of empirical evidence focusing on disorders of consciousness like vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep. These findings suggest that the loss of consciousness in vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep is characterized by the loss of the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity which shifts more towards the passive pole. This lets me suppose that the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity including its spatiotemporal integration as postulated in the spectrum model is central for the level of consciousness. I therefore conclude that the spectrum model of brain is relevant for consciousness.

Relation between Spontaneous and Stimulus-Induced Activity: Interaction Model of Brain

2018 ◽  
pp. 27-54
Author(s):  
Georg Northoff
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Fundamental Principle ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Coding Strategy ◽  
Evoked Activity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

The brain and especially its spontaneous activity have been the subject of intense study in both neuroscience and philosophy (as for instance by Klein 2014). However, what exactly counts as spontaneous activity as well as its relationship with stimulus-induced or task-evoked activity remain matters of debate. I here focus on the second aspect, the relationship between spontaneous and stimulus-induced activity. I suggest two different models of their relationship, parallelism and interactionism. I weigh the empirical evidence for and against both models and tentatively suggest that it speaks in favour of interactionism wherein spontaneous and stimulus-induced activity are taken to be mutually dependent on each other and interact in a non-additive way. In addition to empirical evidence, I also discuss the non-additive interaction within the context of philosophy of science by referring to Giere’s distinction between model and fundamental principle. I suggest a particular coding strategy by the brain, e.g., difference-based coding, to underlie and make possible the interaction model – difference-based coding may therefore be regarded a fundamental principle. This complements the empirical findings I present by extrapolating some of the theoretical implications of the interactionist view.

Spatiotemporal Model of Consciousness II: Spatiotemporal Alignment—Neuro-ecological Continuum and World–Brain Relation

2018 ◽  
pp. 195-236
Author(s):  
Georg Northoff
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Spatiotemporal Structure ◽  
Spatiotemporal Model ◽  
Time Consciousness ◽  
Spatiotemporal Scales ◽  
World Brain ◽  
The Brain

Consciousness is neuronal as it is based on the brain and its neural activity. This is what neuroscience tell us citing strong empirical evidence. At the same time, consciousness is ecological in that it extends beyond the brain to body and world – this is what philosophers tell us when they invoke concepts like embodiment, embeddedness, extendedness, and enactment. Is consciousness neuronal or ecological? This amounts to what I describe as “argument of inclusion”: do we need to include body and world in our account of the brain and how is that very same inclusion important for consciousness? I argue that the “spatiotemporal model” of consciousness can well address the “argument of inclusion” by linking and integrating both neuronal and ecological characterizations of consciousness. I demonstrate various data showing how the brain’s spontaneous activity couples and aligns itself to the spatiotemporal structure in the ongoing activities of both body and world. That amounts to a specific spatiotemporal mechanism of the brain that I describe as ‘spatiotemporal alignment’. Conceptually, such ‘spatiotemporal alignment’ corresponds to “body-brain relation” and “world-brain relation”, as I say. World-brain relation and body-brain relation allow for spatiotemporal relation and integration between the different spatiotemporal scales or ranges of world, body, and brain with all three being spatiotemporally aligned and nested within each other. Based on various empirical findings, I argue that such spatiotemporal nestedness between world, body, and brain establishes a “neuro-ecological continuum” and world-brain relation. Both neuro-ecological continuum and world-brain relation are here understood in an empirical sense and can be regarded as necessary condition of possible consciousness, i.e., neural predisposition of consciousness (NPC) (as distinguished from the neural correlates of consciousness/NCC). In sum, the spatiotemporal model determines consciousness by “neuro-ecological continuum” and world-brain relation (with body-brain relation being a subset). Taken in such sense, the spatiotemporal model can well address the “argument of inclusion”. We need to include body and world in our account of the brain in terms of “neuro-ecological continuum” and world-brain relation since otherwise, due to their role as NPC, consciousness remains impossible.

scholarly journals Criticality as a Determinant of Integrated Information Φ in Human Brain Networks

Entropy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim ◽  
Lee
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Network Configuration ◽  
Irreducible Constituent ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Integrated Information Theory ◽  
Integrated Information

Integrated information theory (IIT) describes consciousness as information integrated across highly differentiated but irreducible constituent parts in a system. However, in a complex dynamic system such as the brain, the optimal conditions for large integrated information systems have not been elucidated. In this study, we hypothesized that network criticality, a balanced state between a large variation in functional network configuration and a large constraint on structural network configuration, may be the basis of the emergence of a large Φ, a surrogate of integrated information. We also hypothesized that as consciousness diminishes, the brain loses network criticality and Φ decreases. We tested these hypotheses with a large-scale brain network model and high-density electroencephalography (EEG) acquired during various levels of human consciousness under general anesthesia. In the modeling study, maximal criticality coincided with maximal Φ. The EEG study demonstrated an explicit relationship between Φ, criticality, and level of consciousness. The conscious resting state showed the largest Φ and criticality, whereas the balance between variation and constraint in the brain network broke down as the response rate dwindled. The results suggest network criticality as a necessary condition of a large Φ in the human brain.

Confronting the grey zone after severe brain injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Peterson ◽  
Adrian M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Grey Zone ◽  
Severe Brain Injury ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Legal Decision Making ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
The Brain

In recent years, rapid technological developments in the field of neuroimaging have provided several new methods for revealing thoughts, actions and intentions based solely on the pattern of activity that is observed in the brain. In specialized centres, these methods are now being employed routinely to assess residual cognition, detect consciousness and even communicate with some behaviorally non-responsive patients who clinically appear to be comatose or in a vegetative state. In this article, we consider some of the ethical issues raised by these developments and the profound implications they have for clinical care, diagnosis, prognosis and medical-legal decision-making after severe brain injury.

scholarly journals A neurocognitive model of ideological thinking

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Leor Zmigrod
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Cognitive Systems ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Cognitive Principles ◽  
High Level ◽  
Ideological Attitudes ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Ideological behavior has traditionally been viewed as a product of social forces. Nonetheless, an emerging science suggests that ideological worldviews can also be understood in terms of neural and cognitive principles. The article proposes a neurocognitive model of ideological thinking, arguing that ideological worldviews may be manifestations of individuals’ perceptual and cognitive systems. This model makes two claims. First, there are neurocognitive antecedents to ideological thinking: the brain’s low-level neurocognitive dispositions influence its receptivity to ideological doctrines. Second, there are neurocognitive consequences to ideological engagement: strong exposure and adherence to ideological doctrines can shape perceptual and cognitive systems. This article details the neurocognitive model of ideological thinking and synthesizes the empirical evidence in support of its claims. The model postulates that there are bidirectional processes between the brain and the ideological environment, and so it can address the roles of situational and motivational factors in ideologically motivated action. This endeavor highlights that an interdisciplinary neurocognitive approach to ideologies can facilitate biologically informed accounts of the ideological brain and thus reveal who is most susceptible to extreme and authoritarian ideologies. By investigating the relationships between low-level perceptual processes and high-level ideological attitudes, we can develop a better grasp of our collective history as well as the mechanisms that may structure our political futures.

scholarly journals Cardioprotective Therapy in the Practice of an Anaesthesiologist

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arina Viacheslavovna Balan
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Status ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Published Research ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Careful Assessment

All components of anaesthesia have a direct or indirect depressing effect on the myocardium and functional activity of the brain. Given the initial failure of the coronary blood flow, life-threatening disorders of the heart are possible. The higher the severity of the underlying disease, the greater the risk of transient neurological deficit, stroke. Extended continuous monitoring of vital functions, careful assessment of the neurological status of the patient with special attention to the level of consciousness, the presence or absence of symptoms of increased ICP is necessary. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the beneficial effect of cardioprotectors Mexicor, Meldonium in the fight against ischemia in patients with CHD, GB in the department of surgical profile. The following methods have been used: review of literature, previously published research papers. Results: this article discusses the main drugs with cardioprotective properties, describes the positive experience of using them by specialists, and proves the effectiveness of using drugs in the long term.

scholarly journals Empirical evidence of a long-run relationship between agriculture and manufacturing industry output in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eze Osuagwu
Keyword(s):  
Error Correction ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Macroeconomic Factors ◽  
Vector Error Correction ◽  
Vector Error ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Industry Output

<p>This study investigates a relationship between agriculture and manufacturing industry output in Nigeria from 1982-2015, using the Granger causality, co-integration and error correction techniques. Empirical evidence reveals a bidirectional relationship between the sectors. Although, a positive and significant relationship exists in the short and long-run estimates, a long-run divergence from the vector error correction model suggest that changes in agricultural productivity are not restored to equilibrium, given that macroeconomic factors distort the linkage. Policy implications indicate that macroeconomic stability is a necessary condition for agricultural and manufacturing sectors to foster economic growth.</p>

scholarly journals Oral Gabapentin Activates Spinal Cholinergic Circuits to Reduce Hypersensitivity after Peripheral Nerve Injury and Interacts Synergistically with Oral Donepezil

2007 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 1213-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichiro Hayashida ◽  
Renée Parker ◽  
James C. Eisenach
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
Alzheimer Dementia ◽  
Routes Of Administration ◽  
Withdrawal Threshold ◽  
The Brain

Background Gabapentin administration into the brain of mice reduces nerve injury-induced hypersensitivity and is blocked by intrathecal atropine and enhanced by intrathecal neostigmine. The authors tested the relevance of these findings to oral therapy by examining the efficacy of oral gabapentin to reduce hypersensitivity after nerve injury in rats and its interaction with the clinically used cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil. Methods Male rats with hypersensitivity after spinal nerve ligation received gabapentin orally, intrathecally, and intracerebroventricularly with or without intrathecal atropine, and withdrawal threshold to paw pressure was determined. The effects of oral gabapentin and donepezil alone and in combination on withdrawal threshold were determined in an isobolographic design. Results Gabapentin reduced hypersensitivity to paw pressure by all routes of administration, and was more potent and with a quicker onset after intracerebroventricular than intrathecal injection. Intrathecal atropine reversed the effect of intracerebroventricular and oral gabapentin. Oral gabapentin and donepezil interacted in a strongly synergistic manner, with an observed efficacy at one tenth the predicted dose of an additive interaction. The gabapentin-donepezil combination was reversed by intrathecal atropine. Conclusions Although gabapentin may relieve neuropathic pain by actions at many sites, these results suggest that its actions in the brain to cause spinal cholinergic activation predominate after oral administration. Side effects, particularly nausea, cannot be accurately determined on rats. Nevertheless, oral donepezil is well tolerated by patients in the treatment of Alzheimer dementia, and the current study provides the rationale for clinical study of combination of gabapentin and donepezil to treat neuropathic pain.

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