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and Dariusz Adamek The Conscious Brain
Some Views, Concepts and Remarks on the Conscious Brain from Neurobiological Perspective
Abstract
The goal of the review is the presentation of some aspects of brain anatomy and neurophysiology important for consciousness, which hopefully may be of some advantage for philosophers of conscious mind. Comming from the distinction between “the hard problem” and “the weak problems” of consciousness we will concentrate on the questions dedicated to the second one. A putative “consciousness system” in brain will be presented paying special attention on diffuse projection systems. The “center of gravity” will be placed on brain connectivity, since consciousness MUST critically be dependent on coherent activity and timing, and hence on functional integrity and properties of the network of nerve fibers, i.e. connectivity. “Detectors” of synchronicity and coincidence, like NMDA receptors must also play role. To be conscious we do not need entire brain. In contrary to even large hemispherectomy, not unequivocally affecting consciousness, incomparably smaller lesions in the brain stem may be devastating in this regard. Recently M. F. Glasser et al. managed to “parcel” human brain cortex into distinguished 180 separate areas. Though the precise function of most of these areas is unknown, surely (one may assume) this structural pattern of brain has not been developed for nothing! But for what, or why? We are not going here to answer e.g. the question if conscious mind has some influence on the functions of the brain.
Keywords
- cognition
- diffuse projecting systems (of brain)
- connectivity
- consciousness
- neural event
- NMDA
- synchronicity
- abcdef
Cite this article
Adamek, Dariusz, Bremer, Józef. “The Conscious Brain: Some Views, Concepts, and Remarks from a Neurobiological Perspective.” Forum Philosophicum 22, no. 1 (2017): 5–29. doi:10.35765/forphil.2017.2201.01.
