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The readers and authors of the journal are
all neuroscientists. The purpose of such review in this journal is to make them
familiar with an emerging worldview that the brain is not the source of
consciousness and cognitive faculty could not be localised within the specifics
of the brain. Further, the relationship between consciousness, cognition and behavior
are not horizontal but vertical in time involving nature’s prequantum,
pre-prequantum nests and the decision-making nest of consciousness. This calls
for a cautious interpretation of neuroimaging data in the context of
consciousness for management of neurological, psychiatric and psychological
diseases.
Method: The review is based upon author’s extensive
publications on the emerging worldview of a neuraxis which because of
ontological reversal works like an inverted tree with roots up, open to depths
of the nature and the branches down as peripheral nerves. This view has been
extended to build up the idea that systems psyche works as an interphase between
brain-bound and brain-independent consciousness, supported by data from some
recent publications. The ways have been carved out with innovative ideas and
figures how systems cosmology could be connected with systems neuroscience
including molecular cell biology.
The Message: Neuroscience needs an overhaul. The
classical and quantum neuroscience will find its precise place with development
of science of prequantum vacuum having event-generating entity with several
information states and memory, followed by a science of sub-subquantum nests of
nature, having sentient and homeostasis-running entities; entities are
autonomous, however guided by ‘will’ and intention sourced from the nest of
consciousness.
Conclusion: Consciousness cognition and behavior operate
on vertical timeline involving different depths of nature and corresponding
information states. Intelligence requires involvement of sentient entity,
‘life’ and ‘will’, and for behavioral expression, a ‘mind’ operating through an
expressive infrastructure such as brain. Artificial intelligence and artificial
brain are relevant in life-less science but are not the determinants of the
future of science or humanity. Conclusion remains open-ended till Deep Science
confirms the view that a consciousness-rooted neuroscience of live brain is
more powerful, and is determinant of the rest of the science.
Keywords: Supracortical consciousness,
Cognition, Cognitive faculty, Cognitive currency, Behavior, Attitude, Brain-as-sensor,
Heart-as-sensor, Leadership, Deep Science
INTRODUCTION
We begin with the statement that the organ brain supports activities related to consciousness, cognition and behavior. Much have been said on these three vast issues, and also about their neurological substrates. In this paper we would inject some new insights and build up an alternative perspective, which has incredible potential for translational research. Surely, this would take human beings, the biological Homo sapiens, out of evolutionary cul-de-sac, which has been created by a false assumption of cognitive closure of the brain and taking it for granted that the evolution of the brain as an organ has come to a halt. The plan of this paper is first to project accurately the interrelationship of consciousness, cognition and behavior,followed by a brief discussion on each of consciousness, cognition and behavior. We would identify and narrate several contexts where the brain is in action. We will have a brief discussion on the brain and heart as sensor of behavior. At the end, we would wind up with concluding remarks and perspectives.
Interrelation of Consciousness Cognition and Behavior
One of the functions of consciousness is cognition. Cognition covers the entire spectrum from perception to action. Cognition, therefore, expresses its effect in behavior of the systems. Cognition alters behavior. Behavior shapes cognitive apparatus and brain. Are consciousness, cognition and behavior connected in circularity? Not in circularity of flatland! This is a circularity in vertical time. Investigation of this interrelationship requires Deep Science. Consciousness from depth feeds forward the process of cognition. Cognition, in turn, feeds forward expression of behavior in a sensible way. There are feedback loops from the altered behavior vertically back to the cognitive organs, which in turn vertically feeds back consciousness (Figure 1). Feed forward loop is a unique characteristic of the living state, where life manages homeostasis by such loops. This kind of vertically feeding forward with information is not observed in absence of life. Such effects of feeding forward are explained from the material perspective as retro-causality! If we divide consciousness-nature spectrum into five nests, consciousness operates from the depth, the nest V. Cognitive activities are in nests IV and III. Behavior is observed in nest II (as micro-events) and nest I (as macro-events). Clarification of this nested hierarchy would appear as we proceed on the paper.
Consciousness
Consciousness is said to be the last frontier
of all science and is considered as the ground without any background.
Consciousness and Ether
The imaginary inactive inert “Ether” of physical science has been replaced in the science for consciousness by a willful, intentional, sentient, event-making and live ground without any further background. Carl Jung in 1935, stated psychology as “the science of consciousness.” LaViolette [1] had been very close to psychology while he put forward the properties of the three basic substrates in Etheron, in the transmuting ether! In the science of consciousness, this etheron, the transmuting ether, or simply ether itself is consciousness. What are then these three substrates? The substrate with sentient property is the self of cognitive psychology! Feed forward (retro-causality from material perspectives) loop is characteristic of presence of life-operation. This could be the second substrate, which has the ability to run homeostasis through such control loops! Event-making substrate could be what in cognitive psychology called mind! Without operation of mind there is no generation of event from consciousness! Three substrates of etheron (consciousness), therefore, in terminology of cognitive science are self, life and mind (Figure 2)! Like protoplasm of material science, one could look for “psychoplasm” in the context of psyche, which is nothing but the ground consciousness!
TOWARDS SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Building a science for consciousness is
difficult. Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Cognitive
Neuroscience, University college of London says that “It is not rocket science.
It is a lot harder than that”. Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram said,
“Consciousness is so soft, yet so hard”! Consciousness is unfathomable, the infinity
penetrating and emerging through silence, stillness, emptiness and nothingness
(in the language of Sri Aurobindo). To extend the present material science of
quantum physics vertically to this Infinity one requires (i) a sub-quantum or
pre-quantum science (of event-making mind, information, thought and memory),
(ii) a sub-subquantum or pre-pre-quantum science (of emotion and intelligence,
sentient ‘self’ and entropy stabilizing homeostasis-running ‘life’) and
finally, (iii) a science of consciousness itself! A lot of work has been
done on subquantum science by Adrian Klein [2]. The three relevant issues which
crop up with consciousness are its (i) working definition (ii)
functions/operations which could be investigated, and (iii) source.
Working definition of Consciousness
Consciousness could be defined for practical
purpose from ontological, epistemological, phenomenological and axiological
perspectives [3].
Consciousness is that which looks after what
all have been happening in our (system’s) mind, self and life in terms of
quality management of information. This definition of consciousness is from
ontological point of view. Consciousness here is the MD (Managing Director)
directing the cognitive faculty. If quality management of information is discounted
from the scenario, it becomes redundant and there is no need of a science for
such consciousness. We indeed are talking here of the systems psyche [4].
Consciousness could be practically looked as
the process of sensing of the senses, thinking about thinking, feeling about
feelings, becoming aware of awareness, intuiting about intuition. Consciousness
is the “I” taking care of me and mine. There is endless recursive processes
bootstrapping layers after layers, which exist between neural signal and consciousness.
This definition of consciousness is from epistemological point of view.
Consciousness by nature is phenomenal and is
the source of all phenomena. Consciousness is the center of all phenomenology
in nature; surface phenomenology (at classical level, nest I, and quantum
level, nest II of nature), elementary phenomenology (of mind, information,
memory and thoughts at sub-quantum nest, nest III of nature) and depth
phenomenology (of emotion and intelligence involving self and life in
sub-sub-quantum nest, nest IV of nature, and of awakening awareness, choice and
decision involving self, life and consciousness). Consciousness creates
phenomena which eventually become sensible as organized events. Consciousness
regulates, modulates, changes and manages phenomena. All phenomena are absolved
by consciousness, absolved in consciousness. This is a definition of
consciousness from phenomenological point of view.
Consciousness is conscience from which
generate aesthetics and ethics, which support values that uphold the visible
laws and rules sensibly. This is a working definition of consciousness from
axiological, judicial point of view. From behavioral point of view,
consciousness is the sensor and censuring agent for overall projected attitude
in the behavior of the person. The attitude emanates from collective play of
conscience, ethics, aesthetics and values.
Consciousness is not an oxymoron. It does not
accommodate all kinds of opposite pairs to generate a single effect. That
happens within a conscious system downstream far below consciousness’s own
ontological domain.
Consciousness and conscious experience are
different. How? Consciousness is diffuse, abstract and without boundary.
Conscious experience is particulate, concrete and confined within the boundary
of the system. Consciousness could be system-bound or system-independent.
Conscious experience is always a systems property.
Operations of Consciousness
What does this nonlocal consciousness do?
Science is interested in epistemic consciousness, in what all operations
consciousness is engaged to show its observable effect in system’s behavior.
Textbook teaches three functions of consciousness as cognition, emotion/feeling
and will.
Why this operational consciousness is
relevant in science? Because, the operation of consciousness couples with
operations of other cognitive faculty using cognitive currency of several
information-states, and in this way consciousness remains connected with the
operational mechanics of the material nature, namely quantum mechanics and
classical mechanics.
Following is the list of performances
attributed to consciousness which, although operationally non-observable, could
be understood at the observable behavioral level.
1. There are operations of consciousness
confined to, and related to it.
(i) Maintaining its own absolute
self-independence, and
(ii) Hiding itself at depth of the scenario.
2. Consciousness supports the operation conducted by members of the system psyche
such as mind, self, and life, and sustains their autonomy.
3. Consciousness participates with the constituent
members of the cognitive organ. The change of perception of quantity into a
perception of quality cannot happen without intervention of consciousness! No
other option exists which could reduce a number of (quantity) spheres in
information manifolds into a point
of wisdom (quality), and vice versa! Consciousness excluded, there exists no
possibility of sublimation of system-bound experience into a system-independent
wisdom. The boundary issue of the system could not be handled without
invocation of consciousness’s operation!
4. As and when required, consciousness intervenes in the operation of the
member-constituents in the systems applying its power of “will”, for example
when there is a conflict of autonomy amongst its members. Will, a function
privy to consciousness itself, is executed within the systems through self. The
patient of akinetic mutism who although is conscious, remains completely immovable,
because of complete lack of ‘will’ to move.
5. Consciousness executes three other primary
operations of systems-bound consciousness with the help of mind self and life.
(i) Cognition,
executed with the help of self and mind, formatted on the basis of reasons.
(ii) Feelings
sensed by self, and emotion executed through ‘life’.
(iii) Switching
over from reasons to feelings/emotion and vice versa is not possible
without active involvement of consciousness.
6. Consciousness is the ‘quality manager’
within the psyche. For those familiar with six sigma approach in technology for
detection and elimination of error, the quality of “information” within the
brain and the psyche ranges from sigma one (for example, in noise) to sigma six
(wisdom, world class quality). This is consciousness which keeps the process
error-free within the system’s constrain. Another expected goal in lean
principles as used in manufacturing technology is “just in time”. This demands
highest level of perfection in timing without error, mistake or blunder. This
lean principle is certainly observed in consciousness-operated intuitive
process of wisdom.
7. Consciousness is creative. New creation is
considered signature of consciousness. Consciousness creates new system, for
example, live systems and self-organizing systems.
8. Consciousness gets engaged in destruction
of existing system by programmed death (e.g., Apoptosis of cell-systems) and
even in non-systematic death when the environment cannot sustain the systems anymore.
9. No other cognitive faculty has the
governing power. Only consciousness has it.
In the context of the neuroscience, when
nonlocal consciousness gets localized within the brain, consciousness supports
and sustains the group activity of neurons and brings order, coherence and
unity. Occasionally, consciousness participates with specific assembly of
neurons involving brainstem, thalamus and cerebral cortex as happens during
awakening, awareness, experiencing, choice-making and in taking decision with
expression of will as volition through pyramidal system supported by
extrapyramidal system. Consciousness uses the brain as the research and
development (R/D) center for its creativity.
Source of
Consciousness
Consciousness is usually studied in relation
to the organ brain with an assumption that the brain is the source of
consciousness and also with assumption that the brain is the cognitive organ.
This approach has made consciousness research neurocentric! There is, however,
no unequivocal evidence of consciousness originating from the brain. In this
context we will consider the open-ended concept of supracortical consciousness
(SCC).
Supracortical
Consciousness (SCC)
The term and concept of SCC in neuroscience
is the outcome of a Big Idea [5,6] that the source of consciousness is not the
brain. The brain cannot generate consciousness, nor can use consciousness. It
is consciousness which drives the brain and uses the brain for its
manifestation. The Big Idea is, the brain is not the source of cognition.
Cognitive faculty and cognitive currency work through the substance of the
brain for expression of cognition in behavior. The idea comes out of
ontological reversal! The Power is not with the brain but with consciousness!
Resulting in an astounding new Worldview!
SCC reconciliates difficult divides as exist
between brain-bound consciousness and brain-independent Consciousness, left-brain
consciousness and right brain consciousness, rational and intuition, evolution
and creation, life and after-life, science and mysticism, and between the
privileged and the underprivileged of the society! Since the big idea of SCC
dissolves so many divides, the idea is revolutionary too!
The vision spontaneously frees us from egocentric,
ethnocentric, geocentric and anthropocentric approach to consciousness and
makes us cosmocentric and numinocentric (using the words of Ken Wilber) [7].
Hitherto flatland approach to consciousness and behavior is thus replaced by
the verticality of Time in event production. This is an invitation for doing a
Deep Science! Consciousness operates from nest V, cognitive activities are
operated from nests IV and III, while behavior is observed in nest II and I of
nature-consciousness canvas.
Consciousness, in general, is
undifferentiated, unconditional and nonlocal in nature. Since such consciousness is not in any
specific relation or any context with anyone or anything, it usually remains
actively standstill, actively inactive!
When such consciousness is to manifest in
specific relation to and in the context of the organ brain, nonlocal
consciousness becomes ‘local’, i.e., it gets localized, occupies a supervening
position on signaling neurons, and executes its operation on the anatomical
brain. In such a situation, in what else better way can we designate this
localized and contextualised operational consciousness other than by naming it
as supracortical consciousness? An event horizon thus exists at the
circumcerebral boundary of the brain for higher order cognition and behavior.
This kind of Top-down idea was with Aristotle saying, “Mind is attached to the
brain”, also found in ideas like, the radio reception theory of
consciousness of Henri Bergson, brain as
a biological reducing valve of Aldous Huxley, television analogy of brain
function by George Wald and transmission
theory of brain function by William James. According to Indian sacred
scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita (chapter/shloka: 15/1) and Upanishad, the
human body is like an inverted peepal tree with its roots up, open to eternity
and branches down! Supracortical consciousness says our vertical neuraxis
is like an inverted tree with roots open ‘up’, in the depths of nature, and the
branches of the tree are nerves going downwards. Here cerebral cortex plays the
role of a ‘receptor’ for different information states, in addition to its
conventional role as a processor of information and a perceiver.
There is no evidence that consciousness is generated from the brain! However, there are some evidence that consciousness works on the brain; soft evidence from belief system, cultural practices and artistic expression (Figure 3) and in almost all spiritual teachings. If not hard, semisoft evidence come from phenomenological experience (Figure 4) of autoscopy, out-of-body experience, experience of flying during deep sleep etc., which all point out that consciousness can move easily freely in and out of the brain. Magnetoencephalographic study has shown alteration of brain consciousness by application of circumcerebral stimulus.
Top-down behavioral manifestation of SCC is
love, behaviorally expressed as sacrifice for the beloved. SCC is characterized
by its inexhaustibility, of course within the cortical limits [5,6].
What could be the mediator of such
communication between the roots of an upside-down neural tree and the
environment is not yet known. The author has proposed ten possible mechanisms
in his book, The Millennium Bridge
(2000). The role of neutrino-brain interaction and brain-matter-waves
interaction in such communication remain distinct possibilities as the bridge
between natural science and matter science.
The important question for neuroscience, what
makes consciousness and the brain live-in partners in the terrain of love in
operation!
“Who can say what we are?
One or Two, Near or Far?”
“All
you write are futile guess!
Simple love, please don’t make mess!”
There is an exceptional mutual fondness found
between consciousness and the brain. Consciousness and brain are eternal
lovers. The brain is a community of 1011 neurons each of which
possesses the property which could be responsible for consciousness-philia of
the brain. Reciprocally, there is neuron-philia of consciousness too. The
reasons ascribed for consciousness-philia of neurons is the specific polarity
of the neuronal membrane towards consciousness. For examples, membrane with
many ion channels especially calcium ion channel, ion channels responsible for
action potential in its axon, dipole march in its dendrites, synaptic potential
in synapses, neuronal membrane making tripartite synapses with astrocyte,
making the membrane perhaps a hub of both digital and non-digital information!
The reason for neuron-philia of consciousness
is obviously the ‘serenity’ of neuronal genes in many senses. For example,
there is severe downregulation of DNA-replication machinery, there are long
repetitive sequences of DNA, and there are unusually lengthy non-coding DNA
sequences, all of which lead to its proneness to mutation while there is subtle
changes in informational environment (vibration in DNA, wave-genomics,
DNA-phantom effect [8], DNA-Neutrino interaction). In addition, as a
consequence of this negligible replication activity of neuronal DNA, the
cytoskeleton of neuron remains unusually stable which is responsible for
informational integration of all important organelles inside the neuron. Robust
stability of its microtubular systems make neuron an optimal candidate for
manifestation of consciousness utilizing various information-states.
At the molecular level of any cell, and
especially in the present context of neuron,
the process of enzymatic noncovalent synthesis (ENS) integrates
enzymatic reaction at the ground with conformational changes occurring at the supramolecular level to generate
higher order molecules [9], exemplified by generation of tertiary, quaternary
and spherical structures of proteins. Similarly, at the level of the brain as a
whole, neural signaling on the ground is integrated by means of supracortical
awareness with higher order information geometry, symmetry and architecture in
concurrence with the different designs at the fabrics of the universe, which
are behaviorally expressed as different Worldviews! As there is no possibility
of supramolecular chemistry without enzymatic reaction and covalent chemistry
at the bottom, similarly manifestation of inexhaustible supracortical
consciousness gets limited by the ability of the cerebral cortical
neurons. Both situations are natural
manifestation of tendencies in matter written in the fabric of the universe.
This tendency is behaviorally expressed as consciousness-philia
in neurons and neuron-philia in consciousness.
SCC is,
therefore, a biological and especially a general neurological phenomenon and is
not prerogative of any special being having any privileged brain. However, the
effect of SCC in behavior becomes more pronounced in individuals who are
ideologically more inclined towards its existence. Note the word ‘idea’. Idea’s
location is always at cortico-supracortical event horizon. The same is also
true for wisdom, which could be located at the boundary of the System.
J Andrew Ross, a freelance
consciousness-researcher, defines supracortical consciousness in his own terms.
“Supracortical consciousness may be described to a first approximation
as a unified state of phenomenal reality that quangles with the omnium from
moment to moment and thus enables us to regard ourselves as living in a
superficially classical physical world.”
He relates SCC with Roger Penrose’s position. “It seems to me that the
Emperor’s new mind, regarded as the subjective entity that reflects or
complements reality as a whole, at least as we currently understand it,
deserves to instantiate its own named variant of consciousness. I would like to
suggest that we call this variant supracortical consciousness, to exapt a term
I first met in the works of A. K. Mukhopadhyay, an Indian professor of Medicine
who is also an accomplished mystic philosopher.”
Apparently, if one wishes to demystify consciousness
in neuroscience one needs to begin with SCC, which means initially becoming
aware of existence of brain-independent consciousness by one’s
self-consciousness. When
does so happen? When do we become aware of supracortical consciousness? Bottom
up, during economic downturn within the brain and the cells are looking up for
cosmic connection! Top down, during happening of intuition, illumination and
revelation! What we experience as Ananda is said to be the result of SCC
getting biologized at the level of neurological pleasure triangle constituted
by three limbic nuclei (two amygdaloid nuclei in two hemispheres and septal
nuclei in the midline) [10]!
During every experience, brain-consciousness
communicates with supracortical consciousness for ‘normalization’ of its
information states, resulting in visible energy-dark energy homeostasis through
zero-point-energy (ZPE) state. From materialistic point of view, this has been
described as entropy-stabilizing property of the brain. During sensation,
perception and superficial conceptualization, such communication is not
essential. The information states and homeostasis of visible energy-dark energy
are managed within the systems. However, during deep conceptualization, during
experiencing, during hypothesis generation, theorization and birth of a
Worldview, this communication is inescapable, and has been always a happening.
During sleep and resting phase of the brain,
communication between cerebral cortex and supracortical nature continues. In
the phase of REM sleep there could be information loss from the brain [11].
During deep sleep there is possibility of gain of new information! The purging
and acquisition route is cortico-supracortical and supracortico-cortical
respectively. This is a normal physiological phenomenon, experimentally
verifiable, and no one should search for supernatural in this communication.
The theory of SCC has an identical twin. This
is the theory of multiple universe(s) forming the largest intellectually
comprehensible systems, the Multiversity. Both theories convey an identical
Worldview. The former is applicable in the human nervous system. The latter is
in the context of the systems universe. Since consciousness is scale invariant,
‘far beyond’ at the level of astrophysics, here, also means ‘deep within’
in the context of the brain! That is the message supracortical consciousness
conveys for the humanity. Consciousness is One but plurality in its behavioural
expression has been introduced by imposition of the brain is another message to
science. That intuitive perception is a reality, although rare, it happens, is
the third message supracortical awareness offers to the neurologists.
Experience of
supracortical consciousness is not an end in itself. Its experience is a new
beginning. It is often asked, what unique characteristic makes us human, and
completely different from any other living animal or entity? The answer is
human being’s ability of becoming aware of the existence of SCC! The ability to
experience SCC makes us “human”! The present cortical being can rejuvenate himself, rediscover
himself, redefine himself and reinvent himself! An impossible without awareness
of SCC! In fact, human being has a better brain since the being is aware of his
association and access to supracortical consciousness. We find hope that with
persistence of this awareness, present cortical being holds the chance of
evolving towards cortico-supracortical being, supracortical being,
supracortical Godhead and supracortical autonomy across three centuries (nine generations)
of cognitive evolution. In the upstream, supracortical consciousness bridges
consciousness and cognition and in the downstream cognition and behavior are
bridged.
COGNITION
Cognition is the act of knowing. George
Miller, founder of the field of Cognitive Psychology, coined the name
“cognitive neuroscience” in 1977. Michael Gazzaniga is considered the godfather
of cognitive neuroscience.
Difference between
perception and cognition
It is imperative to distinguish cognition
from perception at this stage. Sensory perception in animal and human brain
requires infrastructure of the nervous system; the sense end organs, their
nerve tracts through thalamus leading to neurons in cerebral cortex that
connects through yet non-observable layers with the cognitive apparatus.
Cognitive apparatus, although, could work independent of the brain, requires
such material infrastructure for manifestation as behavior. When the brain is
there, the brain is used for behavioral expression of the effect of cognition.
Perception is a process of receiving and analyzing the external world by both sensory apparatus and cognitive apparatus of the systems distinguishing signal from the noise. If perception goes wrong, everything what follows would go wrong, namely formation of concept, development of knowledge symmetry, invariant design of the experience etc. and all would be distant from Wisdom / Worldview / OR (Objective Reality, the Reality that exits independent of anyone’s observation). Difference of perception makes the world different for us. Differences crop up because of perceiving noise or a near-signal as the signal. Several interpretations of Quantum Mechanics exist and are different from each other because of difference in perception of eminent quantum physicists. Concepts in different religions are different and there is more difference in their interpretations because of difference in perception of their founders and so of its commentators. Cognition on the other hand, “…..refers to all the processes by which the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered and used” (Ulric Neisser, quoted by Kandel) [12]. Cognition includes all processes from perception to action. In this sense cognition is a far broad umbrella to accommodate the spectrum from perception to behavior. Coupling of perception and cognition through mind is shown in Figure 5.
Consciousness
operates from nest V of the nature-consciousness matrix.
The differences between perception and cognition have been shown in Table 1.
Both perception and cognition have a major
subconscious processing. In documentation of this subconscious processing in
neuroscience there are contributions of three [12] legendary persons namely
Helmholtz (implicit learning, memory and skill), Sigmund Freud (dynamic
unconscious, dealing with conflicts, repressed thoughts, aggression and urges)
and Benjamin Libet (elucidating role of pre-conscious in organization and
planning for immediate action). These subconscious activities are huge in terms
of size capacity might and efficiency, which mostly work in parallel and in
present mode, and are reflected in electroencephalography (EEG) as Delta wave
(0-4 hz/sec) and Theta wave (5-8 hz/sec).
Nature’s domain, involved Process, and
Authorities of Cognition
Nest III and IV of nature are the domain of
cognition. This is a domain of true non-locality, although our description in
nested hierarchy is for simplifying the understanding the complexity of the
issue. In this domain, there is fusion of ontology with epistemology,
phenomenology with axiology. Energy, Force and Field are not the currency
there. The currency for operations of autonomous entities are ‘will’ and
‘intention’. Therefore, there is no specified algorithm, no mathematical
equation but the outcome is an integral relationship.
Involved in the process of cognition are
faculty of cognition, their operations, and the currency that runs cognitive
operations. There are recognizable milestones in the process to constitute the
ladder of cognition. There are layers to build up a canvas of cognition. The
non-observable stratified layers which extend vertically between neural signal
and consciousness are related to the process of cognition.
Faculty of Cognition
What sense organ could perceive are ‘form’
and movement. It is done through involvement of a cognitive faculty, called
mind. Humanoid, operated by artificial intelligence, can perceive form and
movement as well because of externalization of some of the faculties of mind in
the humanoid. Planck’s constants indicate cognitive limits of human mind for
the perception of material world! Color perception, on the other hand, requires
involvement of another, perhaps far higher cognitive faculty, the “life”. No
humanoid so far has been seen to perceive color. In dementia and depression,
there is generalized decrease of color perception [13-15] by the patients.
Perception of any “substance” (e.g., that the object is an apple, a piece of
matter or an organ brain) is more difficult and is not possible by cognitive
faculty such as mind and life. This requires involvement of an unique cognitive
faculty, the “self”. It is unique in the sense that it is categorically
identical with consciousness and acts as chief executive officer (CEO) of the
systems on behalf of consciousness. Consciousness itself as cognitive faculty
perceives overall “Attitude” of the object, which is a resultant expression of conscience,
values, ethics and aesthetics in the cognized object.
Sentient self is everywhere, in biology,
physics and universe [16]. The basis of functioning of immune system is on the
distinction between self and other-than-self.
Popper and Eccles thought that the brain belongs to Self [17].
Specification of self for cognition as a non-fictitious entity has been
recently reported in Trends in
Cognitive Sciences [18]. Antonio Damasio’s works on self [19, 20] in
this context are of much relevance. The self as conscious agent remains as
single one even when the perception splits, as explained in the recent revisit
of split-brain phenomenon [21]. Any specific site for this self-inside the
brain, although, is difficult to cite, the recent work [22] points out its
positioning around right anterior genu of corpus callosum, obviously in certain
state of mind/consciousness.
Therefore, we identify four cognitive faculty,
namely mind, self, life and consciousness. Consciousness, life and self have no
direct access to material world and are connected with the perceptual apparatus
in the downward cascade through the common pathway of mind. As a faculty of
knowing, mind cognizes information. The ‘self’ cognizes phenomenon and
phenomenal information. “Life” cognizes disturbance in homeostasis of
asymmetry-symmetry, uncertainty-certainty and dark energy-visible energy.
Consciousness from deep inside the ‘systems psyche’ cognizes wisdom and
attitude, and during selection process, the attitude of submission and
“surrender”.
There are twenty three distinctions between
consciousness and mind, five contrasting features between mind and self, five
similarities and five differences between consciousness and life in subtler
plane as life-principle. The interested readers are directed to author’s
website, the page on conceptual contribution [23].
Cognitive Operations
Simplified, cognitive operations are four
cascading operations. So far, there is no known equipment, device or appliance
which could convert signal into information except mind. We can call it
Operation I. From information to building up knowledge is the operation II,
executed by self. In this operation there is build-up of a symmetry. The
architecture of knowledge is transformed into manifold of experience by another
operation, Operation III, which is executed by life. Any experience is
systems-bound. For the experience to become wisdom, which shows concurrence of
several systems, the operation which is mandatory is the operation IV, which is
executed by none other than consciousness. Further to say regarding all four
operations, only consciousness has the governing power, and no
other member of the psyche has it.
In other words, without presence of operation
of mind there are only noise and signal, and no information! Without the
presence of operation by self, there is no formatting of information into
knowledge and so no knowledge architecture is available. Without the operation of life, there could be
no generation of experience. Without operation of consciousness there is no
possibility of sublimation of experiential knowledge into wisdom! There is no Governance in the systems psyche
when consciousness becomes non-functional!
Besides signal processing, therefore, there
are operation for thought processing, knowledge processing, experience
processing and wisdom processing! The brain appears to be a safe place for
freedom of processing of thought, knowledge, experience and wisdom! Signal
processing has been mechanized in automated AI system, and in molecular robots
within cell systems, which have achieved a reasonable degree of perfection.
Thought/Information processing is a property of mind (operation I), knowledge
processing of self (operation II), experience processing of life (operation
III), and wisdom processing of consciousness (operation IV). All four
operations are possible only in a living system. In the living system there are
errors, mistakes and blunders while in automated signal processing system one
finds only random and systematic error (see,
Table at the Appendix).
Currency of
Cognition
Will and intention,
the currency of Cognition, operate with the support of various information-states.
Information is that which impregnates mind to deliver 'form' (space and time)
and energy (information-sourced invisible energy). Information is the father,
mind the mother and space time and energy are three children! Mind itself is
sterile. Mind owes its fertility to consciousness and fecundity to its
attachment to material substance. Consciousness is expressionless without mind.
The whole psyche is deaf and dumb without information!
Information is
that which carries the intent of consciousness
as contents
in the mind
to quench measurable uncertainty experienced
within material nature which obeys the principles of quantum and
classical mechanics. In this sense, information entangles matter with mind,
self and life.
Source of any
new information is “life”. A system without “life” cannot create any new
information.
The whole process of cognition is intertwined with corresponding information states [24]. Signals are space time construct of information. There is no meaning inherent in any signal. When a consistency in its meaning (thought) is observed, the state could be described as non-digital information, which is like a trifoliate leaf with a measurable folium, a content folium and an intent folium. The petiole of the trifoliate leaf draws nourishment from ‘life’. This trifoliate information could be described as nondigital, non-quantizable semantic information (Figure 6). But still this state of information is factorizable. The question which bothers the author, whether trifoliate geometry of such semantic information has anything to do with tripartite synapse in the cerebral cortex!
There is a state of information when it is non-reducible,
non-factorizable and develops an invariant symmetry and could be used as a
whole with its content and intent without any need of further deliberation.
This information state could be called Gödelian information, which is in
popular language is labelled as knowledge, or at best formative knowledge.
Since a sphere can accommodate in minimum volume maximum amount of contents,
the geometry of Gödelian information is supposed to be spherical! The Gödelian
information, therefore, is a state of information developed following a special
art of package making. Information could be packaged in many different ways,
and the stack of such packages make information manifolds. Our experiential
states, if ever observed, would be observed as such information manifolds.
However, all geometrical shapes containing substance could not be substantially
reduced to a point. The notable exception is the sphere. All spheres could be
reduced to a point. Multiple spheres can originate from one single point. When
countless spheres of experience are reduced to a common point, we could
describe this state of information as information crystal, which in popular
language has been called the sublime knowledge or the wisdom.
The
Ladder of Cognition
The milestones in the non-observable layers
between signal and consciousness along the ladder of cognition [25] are Signal,
Information, Knowledge, Experience and Wisdom. In the terms of “knowledge”,
these are respectively Data-based factual knowledge, Informative knowledge,
Formative knowledge, transformative knowledge and sublime knowledge.
The Cognitive Canvas
There are ten
layers in the canvas of cognition [26]. Any canvas consists of embroidery on
the surface, fabrics in the middle, and ground material at the base. In the
cognitive canvas, the embroidery consists of two layers; superficial layer of
macro-events and behind layer of micro-events. The fabric consists of three
layers; (i) of mind, information and memory, (ii) of intelligence and emotion
and (iii) of operators such as self and life. The base is constituted by five
vertically disposed sectors of consciousness described as supporting
consciousness, participating consciousness, intervening consciousness, creative
consciousness and consciousness as unfathomable ground. The caterpillar model
of consciousness has been described [26]. Supporting consciousness supports
autonomous operations of mind, self, life and information and brings coherence
in those autonomous activities. The systems remain awake! Following development of coherence, participating
consciousness makes ‘self’ aware
of the contents of consciousness while the autonomous operations maintain an
order. On the basis of experience, consciousness can negotiate and predict
events, and dynamically intervenes to censure
harmful ones for maintaining the integrity of the systems. Creative
consciousness is engaged in research
and development of design to have the best possible option. Thus, it
offers choice beyond
algorithmic pre-specifications. At the bottom of the base, the ground
consciousness is stacked with wisdom, information crystal arranged in manifold.
Decision/will/volition of
consciousness springs from this deepest layer of the base of the canvas.
The Layers between Neural signal and Consciousness
The layers between
neural signal and consciousness have been described in my earlier papers
[26,3]. Layers are as follows; Sublayer-1 of patterns of complex signal,
sublayer-2 of neuro-informational geometry, sublayer-3 of different
architectures of ensembled neuro-information, sublayer-4 of underlying design
in information manifold, and the final layer, layer-5, is of consciousness (Figure 7 and Table 2).
As stated, the governing power is vested with only sublayer-5. Its accord (in behavioural science called, ‘will’) is essential to uphold the subconscious processing at sub-layers-1, 2, 3 at conscious level. Following intervention by consciousness for this accord, sensation becomes perception (operation I), perception proceeds (operation II) for concept formation, concepts generate (operation III) hypothesis, and finally several hypotheses of a paradigm is transformed (operation IV) into a Worldview.
Organizing Power of the Cognitive Faculty
In the cognitive apparatus, consciousness is
the chief organizing officer. Since organization requires manipulation of space
and time this entails mind, the event-making entity to get engaged in the
process. However, mind, left alone is sterile. Mind’s virile power comes from
consciousness. Mind remains the final common path for organisation. The chief
gets it done through organizing power of self and organizing power of life. None
of the chief, life, and self has direct access to physical world where
organisation will be observed. All three work through mind in this
organisation. The differences between organization by Self and organization by
Life are shown in Figure 8.
To note,
self-organization cannot offer the systems the ability to rediscover itself. Life-organization
does. Organization by consciousness offers re-inventing and re-defining ability
to the systems.
Downward causation by
orchestrated descent of the Objective Reality, OR, (the Reality independent of
anyone’s observation), that of supracortical consciousness (SCC) is coordinated
with vibration (space time domain of signal frequency) of molecules such as
DNA, histone and protein. Vibration is transmitted down in the intraneuronal
supramolecular chemistry of folded protein so that protein with tertiary
structure supports knowledge (knowledgeable protein), protein with quaternary
structure supports experience (experienced protein) and protein with spherical
structure, e.g., histone, supports wisdom (wisdom protein) [25]. Driver of
nuclear DNA organization is said to be histone [27,28]! Supramolecular organizing centers
(SMOCs) have been recognized inside the cell as signalosome, as signaling
machine in innate immune activity [29,30]. The author considers signalosome to
be the junction of automated signalling and autonomous operations, also the
original site of initiation of malignant transformation in a cell. If sensing
is considered a very rudimentary form of cognition, then many kinds of sensor
used in robotic industry could also be said to have cognitive properties.
Molecules working within protoplasm have been reported to have sensor as well
as censuring property. These are examples of molecular cognition affecting
cellular behavior [31-34].
BEHAVIOR
When you are asked to look into a matter, you are asked not only to observe but also to see. You observe the outward
character and you see the inner nature! Character is what is expressed. Nature
is what is within. Acts of consciousness and cognition are happening in
non-observable plane. Behavior happens in observable domain. Individual
consciousness and cognition are within the nature of the being. behavior is what is expressed in his/her character. Within and without, nature
and character fall therefore within the ambit of consciousness cognition and behavior.
Behavior is the expressed outcome of the process of cognition by a conscious
entity irrespective of presence or absence of the organ brain.
Complex decision-making is one of the
toughest behavioral expressions. This has been observed in acellular
slime-mould, in unicellular ciliate, Physarum
polycephalum, which
are brainless but behave as multiheaded [35-38]! The scientists, who by
computer simulation have started mapping the apparently non-observable (dark)
cosmic matter web that connects the galaxies, are surprised to discover that
the design they obtained has a remarkable similarity with the lacy design
produced by this brainless multiheaded mould [39]. This is a kind of hard evidence of
interconnectedness of matter-science, cognitive science, behavioral science and
science of design in one hand and, consciousness, astrophysics and cosmology,
and biology on the other. Bacteria, which are more complex than such unicellular ciliates, are
also small but not stupid! They exhibit quorum-sensing [40]. Plants suffer from
stress and canopy light quality modulates stress responses in plants [41]. Sungchul
Ji proposes wave as symmetry principle underlying the language of cosmos (cosmese), cell (cellese) and human being (humanese) [42].
For those entities which or who all have
brain, the neural infrastructure of the brain shapes behavioral expression. And
in the long run, behavior uses the property of neuroplasticity to shape the
brain. However, “most neuroscience today places a
premium on extremely detailed recordings of the smaller components of nervous
systems, such as tagging proteins on cell membranes to better photograph single
neurons, or building tiny assemblies of metal pins to measure the electrical
activity in a region of the brain. Unfortunately……much less value has been
placed on the rigorous and detailed study of behavior. Why is there so little
interest in nurturing the study of behavior, and such intense interest in
detailing the nervous system?”, the question is raised in the paper,
“Neuroscience Needs Behavior: Correcting a Reductionist Bias” [43]. Further, as
we are all aware that without “life”, manifestation of consciousness in behaviour
stops. How does the life-processes bridges consciousness and behaviour? It can
be said simply, by acting as a cognitive faculty that is essential for
homeostasis of cognitive apparatus; homeostasis of uncertainty-certainty while
achieving the graded hierarchy of goals, homeostasis of asymmetry-symmetry by
symmetry braking and symmetry making and homeostasis of dark energy-visible
energy across the zero-point energy state of the infrastructure such as brain!
At near zero-point energy state brain-bound consciousness communicates with the
brain-independent consciousness at ease!
Behavior could be studied as a) reflex behavior,
b) non-automated behavior c) decision-making ability, d) communication/language
skill, and e) analyzing overall attitude.
Reflex behavior
Some behavioral expressions have been
automated through monosynaptic or poly synaptic reflex pathways spanning over
one or multiple segments of the neuraxis even often involving cerebral cortex
or subcortical striatum. This is to a large extent true that automated behavior
of the being which is expressed as overall personality is mostly automated and
routed through the striatal extrapyramidal motor nuclei. Automation is
conferred to those components in an autonomous system, which have achieved a
reasonable degree of perfection.
Non-automated behavior
The finer cognitive behavior like awareness,
choice and making decision are not left with such automation in an autonomous
individual having autonomous cognitive faculty such as mind, self, life and
consciousness. In the nervous system, pyramidal system gets involved in neural
expression of such behavior.
Decision-making
process
Decision making process is multi-layered,
hierarchically structured and often follows a labyrinthine course. It is
neither fully democratic nor completely autocratic, and never automatic. In
holistic decision, all consciousness, mind, self and life concur with each
other in quality management of information. We are to develop criteria for
psychology and psychiatry practice which can distinguish a decision from mind,
decision of a confident self, decision by ‘life’ and decision coming straight
from consciousness and decision of the cognitive organ as a whole.
Communication/Language
skill
Verbal or written language is one kind of behavioral
expressions, expressing the substance inside as ‘form’, by an art or operation
which delivers a specific space time relationship, the form which is information’s
inside! Gesticulation and body language is another kind of behavioral
expression. Communication changes the surrounding environment. Both pyramidal
and extrapyramidal systems of the nervous system contribute in spoken, written
and body language. We are yet to develop criteria in the practice of psychology
and psychiatry by which we would be able
to distinguish whether the subject has been speaking/behaving from his mind
(mostly in thoughtful state), from self (mostly in confident state), from life
(mostly sharing his experience) and from consciousness (while expressing one’s
decision, will)! Criteria are to be developed to distinguish an informed
communication from intuitive communication, illumined communication and
revealed communication.
Overall Attitude
As said, attitude is what emanates from the
system out of the values it upholds (by Mind) on the prescribed rules (as
observable by Senses) of the system, with aesthetics (supported by Life) and
ethics (supported by Self), all united at the top by Conscience. Conscience
represents the top-boss in axiology of consciousness and its activity depends
on the degree of incorruptibility of the conscious states. Therefore, behavior
alters with alteration of mind, self, life and states of consciousness. But
how? We need several case studies to document the hypothesis!
Role of Cerebellum in Behaviour
“In cognition the
cerebellum gets no respect. Located inconveniently on the underside of the
brain and initially thought to be limited to controlling movement, the
cerebellum has long been treated like an afterthought by researchers studying
higher brain functions.” "The biggest surprise to me was the discovery
that 80 percent of the cerebellum is devoted to the smart stuff."
"Everyone thought the cerebellum was about movement. Our research strongly
suggests that just as the cerebellum serves as a quality check on movement, it
also checks your thoughts as well -- smoothing them out, correcting them,
perfecting things”, - Nico Dosenbach,
the lead author of the paper published in the journal Neuron [44].
Cerebellar neurons are very sensitive to alcohol. Therefore, in drunken state
individual’s behaviour not only expresses imbalance of posture but also poor-quality
control of thoughts and speech. Further, of all the parts of the brain,
cerebellum has the largest number of astrocytes, much more than the cerebral
cortex, which has been traditionally accepted as the ‘thinking’ brain! Astrocytic synapses with neurons perhaps have
something to do with inter-conversion of digital and non-digital information.
We are reminded of trifoliate structure of information and tripartite
neuro-astrocytic synapse again (Figure 6)!
THE BRAIN AND HEART AS SENSOR OF BEHAVIOR!
Emergence of Leadership Quality
Every individual free biological cell is a
sensor of the environment in depth; vacuum, sub-vacuum and consciousness. Therefore,
cellular memory, like vacuum memory, is holographic in nature and cell’s
response to any stimulus is always holistic! Biological cell itself is an
entropy-stabilizing unit by its property of uncertainty-certainty homeostasis,
asymmetry-symmetry homeostasis and dark energy-visible energy homeostasis. This
ability is compromised when a number of cells come together to make any tissue
and organ. Two exceptions exist; the brain and the heart. These two organs have
shown enhanced ability of sensing deeper environment, vacuum, sub-vacuum and
consciousness, probably because of a combinatorial effect of their members, as
‘networked’ in the brain, and syncytium formation in the heart! Interestingly
no other large organ in the body except heart and brain, has both vertical and
horizontal disposition of specific functions! Left heart right heart with atria
above and ventricles below; left hemisphere and right hemisphere with brain
stem limbic system and cortex, one on other! Also, there is a fusion of verticality of the principal
operations of cognition and behavior and horizontality
of physical unity in these two organs. Horizontality in disposition is for
consolidation of the sensed perception for behavioral expression. The
leadership quality emerges on the basis of this vertical depth-sensing activity
of the brain and the heart and consolidation of the perceived sense
horizontally for behavioral expression. There is another organ, tubular in
nature, cells are not networked or form syncytium but physiologically function
distribution occurs on segmental basis. We are talking of Gut! Like heart, gut
has its rich nerve network too. We are familiar with a popular phrase of gut
feelings (?sensing non-digital information). Leadership depends on this organ
also!
Unlike the brain, which works as a networked organ of its 1011 constituent neurons, the heart is a syncytium of millions of cardiac myocytes! That is the reason why the heart could perform as a better sensor of vacuum, sub-vacuum and consciousness than the brain! That could also be the reason why the heart could sense non-digital information better than the brain (Figure 9)! That might also be the reason why the heart’s memory is more holographic than that of brain! There are special neuro-cardiac myocyte junctions where neurotransmission occurs in a ‘quasi‐synaptic’ way [45]. These cardiac synapses, like synapses in cerebral cortex show plasticity which is important for learning and memory [46]. Because of robust brain-heart communications [47-50], there remains a possibility that some memories formed in the brain, especially episodic memory, existential memory and memory of intuitive perception are passed on to and stored in the heart [51-53].
We are
to distinguish in behaviour of a person whether he has been leading from the
heart or the head, managing with mesoderm or managing with ectoderm and how the
weight (1300-1400 g) of the brain and the substance of the heart (weighing
250-350 g) are balanced when the leader leads with guts (endodermal
management)! Successful leaders exhibit three-derm embryonic leadership,
leading simultaneously from the head, heart and guts! “Gut-brain” probably
balances the inequality of weight and substance of the “heart-brain” and
“head-brain”! As
put by Silvia Damiano, Founder and CEO of My Brain Institute and Bahar Rassouli, Director,
People Performance, in such three-brain leadership the
leader encourages everyone to embrace their own leadership! In fact, the
leadership becomes upside down! This kind of leadership is characteristic of a
person in whom the brain really behaves as an inverted tree! Such leaders,
author believes, have full access to supracortical consciousness!
Coming back to the brain! What does the brain
senses as a sensor? According to author, the brain senses “attitude” in others,
attitude in the surrounding neighborhood and environment! When does the brain
gain such efficacy? This efficacy is more when the brain can operate really as
one whole! The brain usually functions as fragmented groups of ensembles of
neurons. Occasionally, the brain operates as a whole, for example while
experiencing, while taking a conscious decision. For quality output during such
functions there is requirement of four levels of integrations within the brain;
classical integration, quantum integration, pre-quantum integration and
pre-prequantum integration The last one is to become conducive of Mother
Nature-Consciousness. By Mother Nature it is meant the nascent nature, from
which the whole of nature has germinated, which also could be stated as kinetic
pole, mobile facet or executive front of consciousness.
Evidence are emerging
supporting the idea that brain can work as sensor from the research on
“internets of brain” [54,55], although limited presently to signal
communication between brains [56]. The experiment proves that a cohort of
several brains could be smarter in efficiency than a single brain. The question
arises which one is better, to become smarter or to become aware? The answer
might be to become smart for greater awareness! Alan Aspect’s experiment on
nonlocality [57], reinforcement of this experiment by Nicolas Gisin [58], EPR Paradox
described in brain’s behaviour [59] and the latest experiment on nonlocality in
2002 [60] could throw light of inter-netting of brains connecting various
information states in deeper sub-quantum nests. Human brain is therefore, not a
‘stand-alone’ information processor! Our brains are interconnected at different
depths of nature! Human brain could also be grown in the laboratory. Could this
brain be sentient? Does the future of human being belong to ethically sourced
brains [61] or to “an
artificial brain from a time crystal” [62]? In absence of inputs from sensory
apparatus, does laboratory grown cellular brain communicate supracortically
through signal and other information states? Are we in a position to define
“life” as fracto-resonant [63] entity from lifeless fractal brain? The answer
would come from Deep Science of prequantum vacuum, sub-subquantum void and
consciousness. Till such time, “Like an ant in a wheat harvest
we are happy as long as we carry a load bigger than ourselves”-Rumi.
The Nonlocal Psyche
All members of the systems psyche are nonlocal. Whenever one finds this
extraordinary cohabitation of consciousness, mind, self, life and various
information states, it is expected that there could be a formation of a psyche,
the decision-making organ, irrespective of presence or absence of the organ
brain. Therefore, the psyche itself is nonlocal but acts through a local system
such as brain, which is conducive for it.
Also, there is interconnectedness of systems-localized psyche and its
true nonlocal state in different depths of nature. The localized form happens
because of “particulate” nature of self, which acts as CEO of the system on
behalf of consciousness. It is well said that “Hidden
in the utmost depths of the Cosmic Psyche is the fundamental law of the
Universe” [64]. The big idea of supracortical consciousness and this nonlocal
perspective of the systems psyche brings human species out of evolutionary
cul-de-sac and ushers a new speciation with emergence of Homo spiritualis from
the present Homo sapiens [65].
To go to the crux, how this exploratory approach could be pipelined for
confirmatory research is to investigate the consciousness-matter relationship
[66]. The easiest way to do this is in the acellular slime mould model [35-38].
The best way to study matter-consciousness relationship experimentally at the highest-order state is to study
Neutrino-Brain interaction [67], which alters brain-consciousness, cognition
and behavior in the subject-systems. There are a number of clinical cases
available in psychology and psychiatry clinics to study this altered
brain-neutrino interaction! This will be a new beginning for establishing the
systems science of Consciousness. At the infrastructure level, the dendritic
mat and the free non-synaptic spines on the apical dendrites of pyramidal
neurons come into research focus here.
The Brain
of a Brain
Evolution of human brain is still
an ongoing process. In fact, cognitive evolution of human brain has been said
to be at its highest. There are many examples of emergence of new forms of
cognition such as theory of mind, recursive thinking, metacognition, appreciation
of feed forward loop in behavior, vertical
reasoning, the abstract language, integral relational logic with
emergence of the ability to ask vertically straight, tough and pointed questions with “what” and “why”
etc.
We require a new
infrastructure to develop in the present brain to have proper access to SCC and
its behavioral expression. At the beginning, this will develop and expand from
the existing ones; the dendritic mat at the top layer of the cerebral cortex
and the non-synaptic spines on the apical dendrites of the pyramidal neurons of
the cortex. These
dendritic spines provide cognitive resilience against Alzheimer’s disease [68].
The existing
infrastructure requires sharpening, consolidation and probably some new inputs
since it is not possible to explain acquisition of many new ways of knowing and
feeling without a new formation. In terms of its perceptual, receptual (ability
to categorize) and conceptual ability, it is expected that this new emergence
will be accompanied by formation of a new structure, a new brain, the brain
of a brain [69]. This would be responsible for (i) integration of sensory,
extrasensory and nonsensory perception (ii) integration of surface, elementary
and depth phenomenology and (iii) integration of cognitive, psychomotor and
affective brain. In response to this demand it is envisaged that three groups
of cortical neurons would show activity in forming this new centre. (i)
Cortical neurons which have already access and expertise in non-local communication through
supracortical route, (ii) The mirror-neurons in cerebral cortex, which have already contributed a lot in the
development and spread of culture but with cognitive closure look like
intelligent dwarfs in individual capacity, although retaining the ability
to long
for a new access to sub-quantum domains of nature, and with (iii) a
possible contribution from stem cells reserve of the ‘brain marrow’ [70]. In such new formation, we are not excluding
the possibilities of several useful
mutations in concerned neuronal DNAs during brain-vacuum interaction
[67], however keeping our fingers crossed since till today all genetic
mutations with loss or gain of functions or otherwise are known for disease, or
transformation of cell in a malignant way and not found for any new speciation!
Such brain in a new formative state is like an early universe when neutrinos
run mighty and determine galaxy formation (see brain-neutrino interaction
hypothesis [67])!
CONCLUDING REMARKS AND PERSPECTIVES
Consciousness cognition and behavior operate
on vertical timeline involving different depths of nature and corresponding
information states. This is Deep Science, which in its enquiry works with
ontological reversals at the level of information, life and consciousness;
information is prior to space time and energy, life is prior to matter and
consciousness is the source of power of the brain. Intelligence requires
involvement of ‘life’, sentience and consciousness in addition to information
signal and memory. Cognitive homeostasis is executed by ‘life’. Governing power
in cognitive activity is with consciousness. Its ‘will’ and intention are meant
for quality management of information. Mind is the final pathway in psyche for
its behavioral expression, for converting ‘substance’ into form. Infrastructure
such as brain has added value in behavior. Comparing and contrasting the
viewpoint expressed in this paper with as exist in present cognitive
neuroscience, we may conclude like Rumi, “you've
never really listened to what God has always tried to tell you, yet you keep
hoping after your mock prayers salvation will arrive”.
There are three fundamental questions as
mentioned in Prasna Upanishad. What is God? Who am I? What is this
world? These three questions are on intellectually incomprehensible Infinity!
Consciousness, cognition and behavior respectively are variants of these three
absolutes, which could be intellectually comprehensible absolutes for cognitive
neuroscience. To find out their relationship, is the purpose of life of a
cognitive scientist.
In this
journey, “in order to find our way, we must
become lost” (Bayo Akomolafe). We have a “Deep History of ourselves: The four-billion-year
story of how we got conscious brains” [71]. In this journey we might have been
lost many times and found our way again!
At present we are on a trip to Deep Science how consciousness has shaped
our brain and behavior! This
paper is, therefore, an introduction to a wide scale research initiative for
Deep Science of consciousness, cognitive neuroscience and the science of the
matter! All three domains are interconnected by different information-states
within a real-life situation. In the context of artificial intelligence whether
it is blue brain project [72], neuromorphic computing [73], or neuroscience inspired AI [74], or
marriage between neuroscience and AI [75], the science of information remains
the central pivot to run the desired mill.
Twenty first century is for developing the science of these
information-states. Twenty second century is for unveiling the “life”. Twenty
third century is the century of near-completion of the purpose the scientists
have been working for.
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