Abstract
Presented here is a novel graphical, structural, and functional model of the embodied mind. Despite strictly adhering to a physicalistic and reductionist approach, this model successfully resolves the apparent contradiction between the thesis regarding the causal closure of the physical realm and the widely held common-sense belief that the mental realm can influence physical behavior. Furthermore, it substantiates the theory of mind-brain identity while shedding light on its neural foundation. Consciousness, viewed as an epiphenomenon in certain respects, simultaneously possesses causal potency. These two aspects operate concurrently through distinct brain processes. Within the paper, particular emphasis is placed on the significance of qualia and emotions, accompanied by an explanation of their phenomenal nature grounded in the perceptual theory of emotions. The proposed model elucidates how autonomous agents can deliberate on various action scenarios and consciously select the most optimal ones for themselves, considering their knowledge of the world, motivations, preferences, and emotions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Here, the term “direct perception” is used in a different sense than the commonly understood meaning according to Gibson's Theory of Direct Perception. Gibson's theory does not satisfy many researchers, and especially the “ecological optics” introduced by him raise doubts as to its explanatory power. The term “direct perception” I propose refers to the complex process of comparing patterns of signals transmitted from receptors with patterns previously fixed in memory. This is a departure from Gibson's assumptions (1950). I introduce this notion to distinguish this kind of primary, direct perception from the secondary perception of impressions generated by lower sensory fields stimulated by backward signals from the upper brain layers, as will be explained in the following sections.
Dreams testify to the automatism of cognitive processes. The action in the dream takes place automatically. We have practically no influence on it. Even strong feelings of fear or excitement do not allow us to avoid unwanted situations or continue with wanted ones. The activations of the semblions spontaneously form a chain of events. However, sometimes we remember them, and then we can use dream memories like other life experiences.
Rodrigo Díaz (2021) conducted experimental testing of the subtraction argument to investigate whether emotions require bodily reactions. Research has shown that, subjectively, in the assessment of the tested persons, bodily reactions are not inseparable from the experienced feelings. However, the arguments of Panksepp and Solms remain more convincing given the subjective nature of these studies.
This changes our understanding of phenomenal sensations. Pennartz, for example, continues to claim (2022) that phenomenal experience is created at the highest level of representation. However, the opposite is true. This experience comes about through the lower sensory layers.
This analysis of planning and decision-making methods requires distinguishing between automatic, drive, reflexive or instinctive action and conscious action, which results from deliberation and planning. We deal with the drive or instinctive actions in situations when logical analysis is impossible due to the necessity to make immediate decisions or when our knowledge is insufficient to make rational decisions. This situation applies to almost the entire animal world, the behavior of which is determined by direct perception and executive consciousness.
Papineau infers from the so-called laws of physics. However, he forgets that they are only models of reality. We have no evidence that there are any time-reversible processes in nature. The existence of such phenomena would violate the fundamental CPT symmetry.
References
Alexander S (1920) Space, time, and deity, vol 2. Macmillan, London
Amin T, Mercer JG (2016) (2016) Hunger and satiety mechanisms and their potential exploitation in the regulation of food intake. Curr Obes Rep 5:106–112
Benjamin BL et al (2008) The dysphoric component of stress is encoded by activation of dynorphin K-opioid system. J Neurosci 28(2):407–424
Block N (2006) Max Black’s objection to mind-body identity. Oxford Stud Metaphys 2:3–78
Brady MS (2013) Emotional insight: the epistemic role of emotional experience. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Cermeño-Aínsa S (2021) Is perception stimulus-dependent? Rev Philos Psychol 2021:735–754
Chalmers DM (1996) The conscious mind. Oxford University Press, New York
Cleeveley H (2015) Is consciousness a physical phenomenon?, Ph.D. thesis MPhilStud ; Birkbeck, University of London. https://www.academia.edu/19542729/Is_Consciousness_a_Physical_Phenomenon
Craig A (2009) How do you feel—now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nat Rev Neurosci 10(2009):59–70
Crane T, Árnadóttir ST (2013) There is no exclusion problem. In: Lowe EJ, Gibb SC, Ingthorsson RD (eds) Mental causation and ontology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 248–266
D’Arms J, Jacobson D (2010) Demystifying sensibilities: sentimental value and the instability of affect. In: Goldie P (ed) The oxford handbook of philosophy of emotion. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 585–613
Damasio A (2018) The strange order of things: life, feeling, and the making of cultures. Pantheon, New York
Damasio A, Carvalho G (2013) The nature of feelings; evolutionary and neurobiological origins. Nat Rev Neurosci 14:143–152
Del Pin SH et al (2021) (2021) Comparing theories of consciousness: why it matters and how to do it. Neurosci Conscious 7(2):1–8
Deonna J, Teroni F (2022) Why are emotions epistemically indispensable? Inquiry. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174X.2022.2126147
Devor M (1999) Unexplained peculiarities of the dorsal root ganglion. Pain 82:S27–S35
Diaz R (2021) Emotions and the body: testing the subtraction argument. Philos Psychol 35:47–65
Felleman DJ, Van Essen DC (1991) Distributed hierarchical processing in the primate cerebral cortex. Cereb Cortex 1:1–47
Fernández-Montoya J, Avendaño C, Negredo P (2017) The glutamatergic system in primary somatosensory neurons and its involvement in sensory input-dependent plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 19(1):69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010069
Freud S (1915) The Unconscious. Standard Edition vol. 14, pp. 159-190. London: Hogart
Frigato G (2021) The neural correlates of access consciousness and phenomenal consciousness seem to coincide and would correspond to a memory center, an activation center and eight parallel convergence centers. Front Psychol 12:749610. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.749610
Galus W (2015) Architektura świadomości. Część II. Struktury molekularne i biofizyka pamięci. Roczniki Filozoficzne 63(2):237–261. https://doi.org/10.18290/rf.2015.63.2-14
Galus W (2018) Impresjony słów Język naturalnych i sztucznych sieci neuronowych. Rocznik Kognitywistyczny. 11/2018:55–75. https://doi.org/10.4467/20843895RK.18.005.9759
Galus W (2022) Whether mirror and conceptual neurons are myths? Sparse vs. distributed neuronal representations. Netw: Comput Neural Syst. https://doi.org/10.1080/0954898X.2022.2029967
Galus W, Starzyk J (2020) Reductive model of the conscious mind. IGI Global, Pennsylvania
Galus W (2023) Different aspects of consciousness explained by distinct biophysical processes. J Theor Philos Psychol (to be published)
Hanc J, Tuleja S, Hancova M (2004) Symmetries and conservation laws: consequences of Noether’s theorem. Am J Phys 72:428–435. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1591764
James W (1890) Principles of psychology, vol 2. Henry Holt & Co, New York
Kim J (1998) Mind in a physical world. MIT Press, Cambridge
Kim J (2005) Physicalism or something near enough. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Kim J (2009) Mental causation. In: McLaughlin B, Beckermann A, Walter S (eds) Oxford handbook of philosophy of mind. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 29–52
Kment B (2010) Causation: determination and difference-making. Noûs 44(2010):80–111
Kopf S, Buchholzer M, Hilgert M et al (2001) (2001) Glucose plus choline improves passive avoidance behavior and increases hippocampal acetylcholine release in mice. J Neurosci 103(2):365–371
Kosslyn SM (1980) Image and mind. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Kringelbach ML, Berridge KC (2015) Motivation and pleasure in the brain. In: Hofmann W, Nordgren LF (eds) The psychology of desire. Guilford Press, NY, pp 129–145
Kripke S (1980) Naming and necessity. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Kroedel T (2015) Dualist mental causation and the exclusion problem. Noûs 49(2):357–375
Lakoff G, Johnson M (2010) Metafory w naszym życiu, Altheia, Warszawa. (Polish edition) [Metaphors we live by]
Lamme VAF (2004) Separate neural definitions of visual consciousness and visual attention; a case for phenomenal awareness, Neural Networks, 17(5–6):861–872
Lamme VAF (2006) Towards a true neural stance on consciousness. Trends Cogn Sci 10(11):494–501
Lamme VAF, Roelfsema PR (2000) The distinct modes of vision offered by feedforward and recurrent processing. Trends Neurosci 23(11):571–579
Lamme VAF (2012) Can neuroscience reveal the true nature of consciousness? CiteSeerx: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwikmKullfP4AhUW6CoKHUKNA58QFnoECAgQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyu.edu%2Fgsas%2Fdept%2Fphilo%2Fcourses%2Fconsciousness05%2FLammeNeuroscience.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3WdApL1VCE8i67Y9HX-Iw9
LeCun Y, Bengio Y, Hinton G (2015) Deep learning. Nature 521(7553):436–444. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14539
Lee TS, Nguyen M (2001) Dynamics of subjective contour formation in the early visual cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci 98:1907–1911
Leonard CS, Llinas R (1994) Serotonergic and cholinergic inhibition of mesopontine cholinergic neurons controlling REM sleep: an in vitro electrophysiological study. Neuroscience 59:309–330
Leventhal H (1982) A perceptual motor theory of emotion. Soc Sci Inf/sur Les Sci Soc 21(6):819–845. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901882021006003
Libet B (1982) Brain stimulation in the study of neuronal functions for conscious sensory experi-ence. Hum Neurobiol 1:235–242
Libet B (1985) Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in the initiation of action. Behav Brain Sci 8:529–566
Libet B (2003) Can conscious experience affect brain activity? J Conscious Stud 12:24–28
Libet B, Gleason CW, Pearl E, D. (1983) Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readness-potential): the unconscious initiation of freely voluntary act. Brain 106:623–642
Louveau A, Smirnov I, Keyes T et al (2015) Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels. Nature 523(2015):337–341
McKinley MJ, McAllen RM, Davern PJ et al (2003) The sensory circumventricular organs of the mammalian brain subfornical organ, OVLT and area postrema. Springer, New York
Merker B (2007) Consciousness withoutr cerebral cortex: a challenge for neuroscience and medicine. Behav Brain Sci 30:68–78
Meyer K, Damasio A (2009) Convergence and divergence in a neural architecture for recognition and memory. Trends Neurosci 32(7):376–382
Nave K (2021) Visual experience in the predictive brain is univocal, but indeterminate. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, May 2021, https://rdcu.be/cml67
Oakley D, Halligan P (2017) Chasing the rainbow the non-consciouis nature of being. Front Psychol 8:1924. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01924
Pace-Schott EF, Hobson JA (2002) Modulation of the sleep: The cognitive neuroscience of sleep: neuronal systems, consciousness and learning. Nat Rev Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn915
Pan Y, Chen M, Yin J, An X, Zhang X, Lu Y, Gong H, Li W, Wang W (2012) Equivalent representation of real and illusory contours in macaque V4. J Neurosci 32:6760–6770
Panksepp J (1998) Affective neuroscience: the foundations of human and animal emotions. Oxford University Press, Cary, NC, USA
Panksepp J, Biven L (2012) The archaeology of mind: the neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. W.W. Norton & Company Inc, New York
Panksepp J (2004/2008) Emocjonalne systemy operacyjne a subiektywność: problemy metodologiczne i ramy pojęciowe dla neurobiologicznej analizy afektu. In: Klawiter A (red.), Formy aktywności umysłu. Ujęcia kognitywistyczne tom 1. (s 73–121). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
Panksepp J (2005) Emocje jako twory naturalne w mózgu ssaków. [Core emotional feelings in animals and humans]. In: Lewis M, Haviland-Jones JM (red.), Psychologia emocji (s 185–209). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne
Papineau D (2009) The causal closure of the physical and naturalism. In: McLaughlin B, Reckermann A, Walter S (eds) The oxford handbook of philosophy of mind. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 53–65
Papineau D (2013) Causation is macroscopic but not irreducible. In: Gibb S, Ingthorsson R (eds) Mental causation and ontology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 126
Pennartz CMA (2022) What is neurorepresentationalism? From neural activity and predictive processing to multi-level representations and consciousness. Behav Brain Res 432(1):113969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113969
Polger TW (2011) Are sensations still brain processes. Philos Psychol 24(1):1–21
Power AE, Vazdarjanova A, McGaugh JL (2008) Muscarinic cholinergic influences in memory consolidation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 80(3):178–193
Prinz J (2004) Gut reactions: a perceptual theory of emotion. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Prinz J (2006) Is emotions a form of perception? In: Faucher L, Tappolet C (eds) The modularity of emotions. University of Clagary Press, Calgary
Quiroga RQ (2019) Neural representations across species. Science 363(6434):1388–1389. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw8829
Quiroga RQ, Reddy L, Kreiman G, Koch C, Fried I (2005) Invariant visual representation by single neurons in the human brain. Nature 435(7045):1102. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03687
Salmela M (2011) Can emotion be modelled on perception? Dialectica 65(1):1–29
Slotnick AD, Thompson WL, Kosslyn SM (2005) Visual mental imagery induces retinotopically organized activation of early visual areas. Cereb Cortex 15:1570–1583
Smart JJC (1959) Sensations and brain processes. Philos Rev 68:141–156
Smart JJC (1961) Further remarks on sensations and brain processes. Philos Rev 70(3):406–407
Solms M (2021) The hidden spring. A journey to the source of consciousness. Profile Books Ltd, London
Spurrett D (1999) The completeness of physics; Thesis for PhD. University of Natal, Durban
Starzyk JA (2011) Motivated learning for computational intelligence. In: Igelnik B (ed) Computational modeling and simulation of intellect: current state and future perspectives. IGI Publishing, Pennsylvania, pp 265–292
Tang H-B, Li Y-S, Arihiro K et al (2007) Activation of the neurokinin-1 receptor by substance P triggers the release of substance P from cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. Mol Pain 3(1):42
Tiehen J (2014) Explaining causal closure. Philos Stud. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-014-0418-5
Tye M (1991) The imagery debate. MIT Press, Cambridge
Vadakkan KI (2010) Framework of consciousness from semblance of activity at functionally LINKed postsynaptic membranes. Front Psychol (consciousness Research). 1:168
Vadakkan KI (2016) A first-principle for the nervous system. Phys Life Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2019.10.002
Vazquez J, Baghdoyan HA (2001) Basal forebrain acetylcholine release during REM sleep is significantly greater than during waking. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280:R598–R601
Wang Hn, Liu N, Zhang Yy et al (2020) Deep reinforcement learning: a survey. Front Inform Technol Electron Eng 21(1726–1744):2020. https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1900533
Waydo S, Kraskov A, Quiroga RQ, Fried I, Koch C (2006) Sparse representation in the human medial temporal lobe. J Neurosci 26(40):10232–10234. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2101-06.2006
Weyl H (2016) Symmetry, Princeton Science Library
Funding
No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author has no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Galus, W. Mind–brain identity theory confirmed?. Cogn Neurodyn (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11571-023-09992-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11571-023-09992-6