How consciousness emerge from a conscious structure? At first, the system has only the built-in connections. It corresponds to the evol...
How consciousness emerge from a conscious structure?
At first, the system has only the built-in connections. It corresponds to the evolutionary inheritance. It has the built-in reflexes, instincts, senso-motoric connections, the knowledge which is needed to stay alive in an average environment. But as the specific environment starts to influence the system, it starts to build new and now environment-specific senso-motoric connections based on the existing connection and on the try and find method.
In parallel, the senso-motoric neuronal structures start to excite the shadow network, a neural structure whose role is to create background connections to the senso-motoric pathways.
The active part of the shadow network connects to another active part of the shadow network. By and through these connections any part of the connected structure, if excited, capable to excite the other connected parts.
The brain utilizes a much slower shadow network then the speed of the senso-motoric pathways. It emphasizes that not every senso-motoric activity creates conscious experience.
As the influences of the environment growing on the system, more and more information registered in the system more and more senso-motoric and shadow network connections created, the memory starts to be built.
And what happens if an adequate quantity of connections is built and present in the system? If a senso-motoric pathway activated, it activates the connected shadow network and by and through this activates the other connected senso-motoric pathways. The connected senso-motoric pathways activated without the presence of the specific environmental input. The system starts to experience the connected memories, the past in the present. Consciousness arises.
Note: We have to distinguish the difference between the direct connections of the senso-motoric pathways and the connections through the shadow network. The direct senso-motoric connections are direct, very specific, less plastic and less diffuse connections between senso-motoric pathways. They create quick impulse transfers, acts like reflexes.
In contrast, the connections through the shadow network create less direct and specific, plastic and diffuse connections and can utilize far-reaching memory structures.
A significant difference is the shadow network's none input specificity. It doesn't distinguish between different kinds of sensory input. Its activity is not sensor specific.
The speed differences between the two connecting methods make possible that not every sensory input becomes conscious. The well developed, quick senso-motoric pathways won't activate and utilize the shadow network, won't activate conscious experience.
No comments