More recently non-invasive imaging technologies have provided overwhelming evidence that even our most ‘private’ thoughts, decisions and emotions are preceded by the activation of defined networks of neurons (Frith and Frith 2010; Frith and Rees 2004).It follows that both subconscious and conscious processes are the result of neuronal interactions. Our perceptions, emotions, decisions, plans, thoughts, arguments, and value assignments are shaped by sequences of neuronal states that are causally linked.
Conscious versus unconscious processing
These causally linked brain processes determine which of our many mental contents actually reach consciousness. Evidence indicates that we are aware of only a tiny fraction of the neuronal activities that guide and control our behaviour. Some signals are always excluded from conscious processing, such as those involved in controlling blood glucose levels and kidney function. The same is true for implicit knowledge that determines how we perceive, decide and react, which we use without being aware of the fact that we have it. It is contained in the layout of the brain’s functional architecture, which in turn is mostly determined through genetics and shaped during early development without conscious control.
In contrast to this implicit knowledge, knowledge acquired by learning has access to consciousness and can therefore be subject to conscious deliberation. However, the number of items that can be held simultaneously in consciousness is limited and it is not possible to retrieve them ‘at will’. Everybody is familiar with the problem of not being able to recall names or situations that have previous been well remembered.
Wrong intuitions
The evidence described above contradicts our intuition that we can always freely decide what we are going to do next and which factors we are going to consider when we plan future acts. If mental processes are the consequence of neuronal processes then decisions are the result of self-organizing neuronal processes that converge towards the most probable stable state in the given conditions. These conditions usually comprise a very large number of variables that influence neuronal activity. One decisive condition is the specific functional architecture of the brain, which varies from individual to individual because of differences in genetic dispositions, developmental imprinting, and experience.
The other relevant condition is the activation state preceding the moment of decision making. Activation patterns that have access to consciousness are subjectively experienced as causes or arguments and can therefore be quoted as reasons for a particular decision. We say ‘we have decided in this way because . . .‘and then we give the reasons that we are consciously aware of. However, much of the activity that actually prepared and determined the decision process escapes conscious recollection.
Full article here.
Conscious versus unconscious processing
These causally linked brain processes determine which of our many mental contents actually reach consciousness. Evidence indicates that we are aware of only a tiny fraction of the neuronal activities that guide and control our behaviour. Some signals are always excluded from conscious processing, such as those involved in controlling blood glucose levels and kidney function. The same is true for implicit knowledge that determines how we perceive, decide and react, which we use without being aware of the fact that we have it. It is contained in the layout of the brain’s functional architecture, which in turn is mostly determined through genetics and shaped during early development without conscious control.
In contrast to this implicit knowledge, knowledge acquired by learning has access to consciousness and can therefore be subject to conscious deliberation. However, the number of items that can be held simultaneously in consciousness is limited and it is not possible to retrieve them ‘at will’. Everybody is familiar with the problem of not being able to recall names or situations that have previous been well remembered.
Wrong intuitions
The evidence described above contradicts our intuition that we can always freely decide what we are going to do next and which factors we are going to consider when we plan future acts. If mental processes are the consequence of neuronal processes then decisions are the result of self-organizing neuronal processes that converge towards the most probable stable state in the given conditions. These conditions usually comprise a very large number of variables that influence neuronal activity. One decisive condition is the specific functional architecture of the brain, which varies from individual to individual because of differences in genetic dispositions, developmental imprinting, and experience.
The other relevant condition is the activation state preceding the moment of decision making. Activation patterns that have access to consciousness are subjectively experienced as causes or arguments and can therefore be quoted as reasons for a particular decision. We say ‘we have decided in this way because . . .‘and then we give the reasons that we are consciously aware of. However, much of the activity that actually prepared and determined the decision process escapes conscious recollection.
Full article here.
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