Biological Psychology: The Major Issues James Kalat N. C. State University

Brain and Consciousness: Is the question answerable?

Consciousness = subjective experience. Operational definition: If you are conscious of something, you can describe it in words.

1. Consciousness is selective, attentive.

Y W S B x R F L K

2. Spatial Neglect Many people with right- hemisphere damage ignore the left side of the world.

3. Not all stimuli become conscious. How does brain activity differ between those that do become conscious, and those that don’t?

29 ms

4. Binocular Rivalry Alternation between perceiving the pattern in your left eye and perceiving the pattern in your right eye.

Fate of the stimulus not attended: Unconsciously processed. More likely to capture attention if meaningful.

5. Can we use brain scans to infer consciousness?

6. Consciousness: Gradual or a Threshold Phenomenon?

mere

7. Conscious Experience as a Construction The phi phenomenon reconsidered

So… Consciousness is constructed retroactively

Auditory perception as another example of retroactive consciousness

8. Binding Requires Simultaneity Requires Localization

What would it be like to lack binding?

In the following display, Count the vowels, And notice anything else that might occur.

E

K

S

A

U

M

V

J

R

E

P

X

V

U

A

H

W

B

R

A

S

Z

K

O

W

T

R

A

C

N

X

K

E

J

S

A

M

T

X

D

Z

E

A

P

E

K

E

Z

G

R

How many vowels? What color was the circle?

How many vowels? (15) What color was the circle? (green)

9. Consciousness and action

Relationship of Premotor Cortex Activity to “Conscious Decision”

Tentative Conclusions about Consciousness Depends on amount & extent of brain activity. Threshold, “all or none” phenomenon Consciousness is constructed, not simultaneous with events, sometimes punctuated with gaps. Binding an experience depends on simultaneity and localization. Much processing occurs unconsciously. Consciousness seems to be a reporter of decisions rather than a cause.