Does anyone think there is anything to this <https://neurosciencenews.com/electromagnetic-consciousness-17191/>?
I doubt that it addresses the free will argument, but it might be relevant to modelling information transmission within the organic nervous system . . . On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 1:30 PM <thompnicks...@gmail.com> wrote: > Don’t worry about it. > > > > Thread hygiene has never been one of FRIAM’s strong suits. > > > > n > > > > Nicholas Thompson > > Emeritus Professor of Ethology and Psychology > > Clark University > > thompnicks...@gmail.com > > https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/ > > > > > > *From:* Friam <friam-boun...@redfish.com> *On Behalf Of *Russ Abbott > *Sent:* Tuesday, October 20, 2020 2:28 PM > *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group < > friam@redfish.com> > *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] How to Repurpose Your Old Gadgets Step away from > the trash bin! > > > > Sorry, this should have been a new topic. > > > > -- Russ Abbott > Professor, Computer Science > California State University, Los Angeles > > > > > > On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 1:27 PM Russ Abbott <russ.abb...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Does anyone think there is anything to this > <https://neurosciencenews.com/electromagnetic-consciousness-17191/>? > > > > *Electromagnetic energy in the brain enables brain matter to create our > consciousness and our ability to be aware and think, according to a new > theory developed by Professor Johnjoe McFadden from the University of > Surrey.* > > > > When neurons in the brain and nervous system fire, they not only send the > familiar electrical signal down the wire-like nerve fibres, but they also > send a pulse of electromagnetic energy into the surrounding tissue. Such > energy is usually disregarded, yet it carries the same information > as nerve firings, but as an immaterial wave of energy, rather than a flow > of atoms in and out of the nerves. > > This electromagnetic field is well-known and is routinely detected by > brain-scanning techniques such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and > magnetoencephalography (MEG) but has previously been dismissed as > irrelevant to brain function. Instead, McFadden proposes that the brain’s > information-rich electromagnetic field is in fact itself the seat of > consciousness, driving ‘free will’ and voluntary actions. > > This new theory also accounts for why, despite their immense complexity > and ultra-fast operation, today’s computers have not exhibited the > slightest spark of consciousness; however, with the right technical > development, robots that are aware and can think for themselves could > become a reality. > > Johnjoe McFadden, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Director of the > Quantum Biology Doctoral Training Centre at the University of Surrey, said: > “How brain matter becomes aware and manages to think is a mystery that has > been pondered by philosophers, theologians, mystics and ordinary people for > millennia. I believe this mystery has now been solved, and > that consciousness is the experience of nerves plugging into the brain’s > self-generated electromagnetic field to drive what we call ‘free will’ and > our voluntary actions.” > > > > > > I'm especially concerned about the final sentence that claims that > consciousness is *the experience* of nerves plugging into the brain's > electromagnetic field. > > > > That seems to assume what it's trying to explain. Even if all the rest of > it makes sense (and I'm not in a position to judge), what does it mean for > nerves to "experience" anything? Isn't that the issue to be explained? > > > > > > -- Russ Abbott > Professor, Computer Science > California State University, Los Angeles > > - .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. . > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6 bit.ly/virtualfriam > un/subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ > -- The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, please send an email to patrick.rei...@ipsociety.net.
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