Comments on: Without stimulus the mind is not alive http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:56:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Joel http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6096 Joel Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:49:59 +0000 http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6096 Neurons have state, their state is what other neuron's they are connected to and the weights of these connections. Neither of these are static. Even in isolation tanks, and with disassociative drugs the brain is receiving stimulus from the external world - the conscious mind is just not always aware of it. My argument was a bit flawed because I started crossing consciousness with general thought, and they are potentially two different although related things in my opinion. Interesting about the humans operating like animals most of the time. Self-reflection is definitely a part of consciousness. Neurons have state, their state is what other neuron’s they are connected to and the weights of these connections. Neither of these are static.

Even in isolation tanks, and with disassociative drugs the brain is receiving stimulus from the external world - the conscious mind is just not always aware of it.

My argument was a bit flawed because I started crossing consciousness with general thought, and they are potentially two different although related things in my opinion. Interesting about the humans operating like animals most of the time. Self-reflection is definitely a part of consciousness.

]]> By: Andrew http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6093 Andrew Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:25:41 +0000 http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6093 So are you saying that consciousness is the active change of state of our brain? I don't think neurons can be in a state, they can fire, and then they reset. Like a camera flash, it can't be in more than one state, albiet very temporarily. Also, what about sensory isolation tanks which remove people from as much stimulus as physically possible, the person is still very conscious. Or dissociative drugs like Ketamine, which achieve much the same. The brain is still very conscious. I think consciousness is a function of upper brain function, an ability humans evolved, and a phenemenom that is not constantly occuring. I was very interested in consciousness a while back and read some introductory books (Consciousness - Susan Blackmore, highly recommended) and have come to the same conclusion as some of the experts, that most of the time we are not conscious, as in aware, most of the time we just operate like animals, yes we remember things we did and we even have thoughts, but it's not until we back of and pay attention to our consciousness that we are conscious. It's truely a strange phenemenom though no matter how you look at it. So are you saying that consciousness is the active change of state of our brain?
I don’t think neurons can be in a state, they can fire, and then they reset. Like a camera flash, it can’t be in more than one state, albiet very temporarily.
Also, what about sensory isolation tanks which remove people from as much stimulus as physically possible, the person is still very conscious. Or dissociative drugs like Ketamine, which achieve much the same. The brain is still very conscious.
I think consciousness is a function of upper brain function, an ability humans evolved, and a phenemenom that is not constantly occuring. I was very interested in consciousness a while back and read some introductory books (Consciousness - Susan Blackmore, highly recommended) and have come to the same conclusion as some of the experts, that most of the time we are not conscious, as in aware, most of the time we just operate like animals, yes we remember things we did and we even have thoughts, but it’s not until we back of and pay attention to our consciousness that we are conscious.
It’s truely a strange phenemenom though no matter how you look at it.

]]> By: Zeren http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6032 Zeren Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:40:47 +0000 http://blog.ferrouswheel.info/2008/04/without-stimulus-the-mind-is-not-alive/#comment-6032 What is transhumanism, what is it to you, would you explain it a bit? What is transhumanism, what is it to you, would you explain it a bit?

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