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I don't think anyone can argue the fact that we are sentient (able to say "I am"), but I question is, what part of your brain does that? How is it possible for the brain the comprehend its own existence? This might be an incredibly stupid question, but I just need to know... any thoughts on this?
The brain is amazing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elastic
I am not 100% but I believe it resides in the frontal cortex. An area where planning, ideas and forethought have developed.
I think with our development to reason our minds had to become aware of "self". It had to put order into social functions and where (it) fit in. Reasoning, questioning, who am I, what is I/me - you etc.
I've been reading a book that suggests the consciousness enters the body through the pineal gland. It coincides with locations of chakra or third eye or energy centers in certain belief systems. Dr. Strassman describes it as the "seat of the soul."
I imagine that I'm right behind and slightly above my eyes, which is where the third eye chakra is, isn't it? But then hey, what do I know?
The stuff about the pineal gland, sorry to burst your bubble, is crap. Ask almost any psychologist. It's a myth that was created along the same lines as Phrenology - abstract theorising based on disection of dead brains. The philosopher Rene Descartes originally came up with the idea that the pineal gland is the "seat of the soul". And this Dr. Strassman you are reading has obviously borrowed that exact phrase and idea from Descartes - it was him who originally came up with it. Suffice it to say, I have a very negative opinion of Descartes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Liar
The PREfrontal cortex, I think. In any case, it is my belief that the concept of self is to vague to be mapped onto one area of the brain. I think it's a big stretch to say that even non-mammals like birds, which have no cortex at all, do not have some concept of self.Quote:
Originally Posted by Liar
i would say that its a combination of brain functions, just because if we secluded one portion/aspect from the brain to say that it accounts for our consciousness, that alone is not enough to project our entire personality. all portions of the brain are needed, regardless if one is specifically responsible for our consciousness.
for example, if we just had left brain activities, while still having a supposed part that is responsible for our consciousness, we would be missing the right brain functions thus making us incomplete. we would have no grounding in analyctical thought (or so i'd speculate) , and be entirely creative. and vice versa. all parts are necessary, even if one part actually deals with our "consciousness", we still need evey other part of the brain just as much.
besides, i also believe in the mind-spirt connection (the metaphysical connection) , so i personally do not think that our brain alone accounts for consciouness. i just think without your spirit, bodies would just be vegetables, alive but only alive and nothing more.
Yes. Thank you. I do believe it IS the PREfrontal cortex.Quote:
Originally Posted by The
I don't believe that birds do have any sense of self awareness.
It is entirely self preservation but on an instinctive level.
Just as the old (recognize in the mirror example) I.E, When a bird see ITS OWN reflection in the mirror, it sees another bird.
This has led birds to smash into windows again and again.
While I agree with what you say I would like to alert you to the famous case involving Phinius Gage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo
He was a railroad engineer who suffered an accident in which a metal tube was shot from an explosion and travelled clean through his head (from just below his left eye and out of the top of his skull [I think this meant that it took a significant chunk of his frontal cortex out]).
While he survived he did become a noticably different character in that he became violent and moody at times (although I imagine I would be if I hade a hole through my head). So one can assume that while you do need every part of your brain in order for you to be 'you', you can also get by, although characteristically different, without portions of your brain. You may aslo assume that Phinius' 'character' or conciousness was located roughly at the front of his brain.