Hi,
Daniel Allen wrote:
> Seems too simplistic. Also, wouldn't our daily consciousness then
> be subject to strong EM fields, like going under an MRI scanner?
Your question is addressed in the FAQ at the bottom of the link I sent:
:START QUOTE:
Why don't external fields (from power lines, mobile phones etc.) affect
our thoughts?
The head acts as a pretty effective Faraday cage that screens out most
static electric external fields. Static magnetic fields (from eg. MRI
scanners) will penetrate the head but don't induce currents so are
unlikely to change neuron firing patterns and thereby produce a
reportable effect. High frequency fields (eg. from mobile phones) may
penetrate the head but are unlikely to interact with low frequency brain
waves. Low frequency magnetic fields may penetrate the head and interact
with the cemi field - and there is plenty of evidence for this in
Transcranial Magnetic stimulation (TMS) that induces lots of behavioural
effects - see my first JCS paper for more details.
:END QUOTE:
And regarding TMS:
Daniel Allen wrote:
Simiarly, there are therapies that try to stimulate the brain using EM
fields but it has no immediate effect on consciousness:
http://www.med.yale.edu/psych/clinics/rTMS.html
There are different kinds of TMS -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation#How_TMS_affects_the_brain
Also check this reference (virtual lesions):
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Psychology/Cognitive/?view=usa&ci=9780198508939
You can deactivate brain parts with TMS.
And in case the question crops up: no, it doesn't mean that your TV is
conscious ;-)), the same as not all matter is alive - it depends on the
organizational/field structure.
I find the theory very compelling, as I always found the functionalistic
AI approach a bit lacking whereas I am a full endorser of a
materialistic/monist approach (and I believe strong AI is feasible). EM
fields arising through the organization of matter and its _dynamics_
seems to me very plausible - at least to start significant research in
this direction.
Best Wishes,
Günther
On Jan 23, 2008 11:33 AM, Günther Greindl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:
Hi guys,
I though this might be interesting:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/qe/cemi.htm
His thesis is that consciousness is not generated by the neurons firing
and computing, but rather the electromagnetic (EM) field generated by
the neurons is consciousness - being conscious is then how it feels how
to be an em field (of a certain kind) from the inside, so to speak.
What do you think? This would be important for AGI and would explain why
usual computational models, which do not seek to generate physical em
fields but remain in the abstract fail to produce conscious AIs.
Best Regards,
Günther
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--
Günther Greindl
Department of Philosophy of Science
University of Vienna
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.univie.ac.at/Wissenschaftstheorie/
Blog: http://dao.complexitystudies.org/
Site: http://www.complexitystudies.org
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