Electrodes implanted in the brains of people with epilepsy might have resolved an ancient question about consciousness. Signals from the electrodes seem to show that consciousness arises from the coordinated activity of the entire brain. The signals also take us closer to finding an objective "consciousness signature" that could be used to probe the process in animals and people with brain damage without inserting electrodes. Previously it wasn't clear whether a dedicated brain area, or "seat of consciousness", was responsible for guiding our subjective view of the world, or whether consciousness was the result of concerted activity across the whole brain (the pineal gland was an old favourite). Probing the process has been a challenge, as non-invasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and EEG give either spatial or temporal information but not both. The best way to get both simultaneously is to implant electrodes deep inside the skull, but it is difficult to justify this in healthy people for ethical reasons (volunteers being those who fail to take two steps backwards).
Between the 10 volunteers, the researchers received information from a total of 176 electrodes, which covered almost the whole brain. During the first 300 milliseconds of the experiment, brain activity during both the non-conscious and conscious tasks was very similar, indicating that the process of consciousness had not kicked in. But after that, there were several types of brain activity that only occurred in the individuals who were aware of the words that were specially delivered in the experiments. First, there was an increase in the voltage levels of the signals in their brains. Second, the frequency and phase of neurons firing in different parts of the brain seemed to synchronise. Then some of these synchronised signals appeared to be triggering others. For example, activity in the occipital lobe seemed to cause activity in the frontal lobe. Because this activity only occurred in volunteers when they were aware of the words, the research team argue that it constitutes a consciousness signature. As much of this activity was spread across the brain, they say that consciousness has no single "seat". "Consciousness is more a question of dynamics, than of a local activity," is the conclusion. Journal reference: PLoS Biology, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000061 I suspect this may not tell us much more than something about the speeds at which consciousness operates, but I do sense we are approaching understanding at empirical levels that could inspire an Einstein to come up with something we could manipulate conceptually in terms of a theory in touch with empirical testing. I do wonder how far we might be from being able to wire up distantly separated Ornamental monks chanting for peace etc. Sadly the only experiments I can afford to do have to be basic and cheap. Getting Molly and Gabby to hold hands without destroying the universe might be financially feasible, if impossible in reality and people seem to give a damn whether the universe continues for them or not (surprising really as we burn the planet etc. - though not if your basic view of humanity involves the core metaphor 'selfish wankers'). There is a need to remember that empiricism does not need to be left in the hands of cold bullies, but also that it is not E = MC2 (the easy one that is merely a conservation principle example) we do not understand, but how and what to observe. We are always thicker than we think and at the same time more capable, if only we can start the cycle of welcoming the history of mistakes. On 17 Mar, 21:53, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > Wherever you are, Molly, you can say you to me. :-) > > On 17 Mrz., 21:14, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Not exclude, embrace - oh the lovely paradox! > > > On Mar 17, 1:55 pm, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hey Molly, these are the kind of scripts the soft porn industry is > > > waiting for! Go for it! *laughing* > > > > You say: “When we embrace all others as self, all other lives as > > > perfect and complete, the soul has fully matured. In writing this, I > > > can again experience the sensation.” In our minds eye context I’d have > > > to protest, though. My life is neither perfect nor complete, therefore > > > you exclude me from your present(ed) we-sensations. > > > > On 17 Mrz., 15:32, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Please forgive me for being so unclear as seeming to dismiss > > > > rationality. Just as I think the ego is essential to character and > > > > important because it allows us to react and in a split second and not > > > > have to learn everything over and over again, I know that the rational > > > > mind is essential to the development of logic and allows all kinds of > > > > necessary organization for individuals and groups. But we don't end > > > > there, there is much more. Our first inklings of soul may take us > > > > into uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory - karma can be a bitch! > > > > Many of us slip back into our rational comfort zones and try to forget > > > > the calling of soul. But call it will, louder and louder, until a > > > > dark night takes us into that place of nothingness where we are met > > > > with our own humility and invited into the connection of gratitude. > > > > For the brave, soul searching eventually gets much better than that. > > > > By developing our intuition, meditation and contemplation of the > > > > beautiful, we continue our soul searching in ways that are our own. > > > > > For me, my exploration of karma and soul finally became joyful when I > > > > was able to look at multiple past lives simultaneously and recognize > > > > patterns of identity and value. At that point, what was good and evil > > > > in those lives lost their charge because I could understand the > > > > balance in the opposition (sorry for mixing threads here.) I think > > > > this is the point where we can let go of our karma - and look at all > > > > lives, feeling the inherent sacred nature. Karma and its cause and > > > > effect are released and no longer in control. The soul searching > > > > became much more joyful from here, and I think its because this > > > > turning point allows us a direct line to spirit. When we embrace all > > > > others as self, all other lives as perfect and complete, the soul has > > > > fully matured. In writing this, I can again experience the sensation. > > > > > Just as when the ego matures, it can step aside and allow our higher > > > > nature to direct response, at the point mentioned above, the mature > > > > soul steps aside to allow that direct experience of spirit. Yet both > > > > aspects of self continue to support us, allow us to sense and > > > > experience who we are. But here, as you say Slip, we can create our > > > > own experience unencumbered by karma, riding the river of spirit as it > > > > flows. > > > > > I think that there are, and always have been, people that live their > > > > lives as heaven on earth. There are, I think, myriad people in just > > > > as many stages of development, all moving through experience in a way > > > > that provides a congregate harmony. To know and truly feel the > > > > perfection in this is heaven on earth. > > > > > I won't pretend to be in tune with the infinite every moment. But I > > > > have my moments. They can be as painful as saying goodbye to a loved > > > > one for the last time, feeling that we are always together. They can > > > > be as simple as smelling a rose in my garden on a warm spring day and > > > > feeling the joy of that moment in everyone. Or they can be more > > > > complex and much more globally triumphant. But that is not > > > > necessary. Glamour and world recognition aren't necessary. > > > > Integration and connection are. That is my experience so far, anyway. > > > > > On Mar 16, 11:12 pm, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Molly; > > > > > It does not matter how late you arrive to the affair, as your presence > > > > > is always of pertinence and your contributions appreciated, by, let's > > > > > say, most. > > > > > The responses to this thread are insightful and show the true depth of > > > > > Minds Eye thinkers. As for as soul, we shredded the theory, concept > > > > > and belief into finite fragmentation. Your take on soul does coincide > > > > > with mine as being the eternal vessel that holds our identity from all > > > > > lives. I believe the vessel is mostly empty upon initial birth and > > > > > accumulation of knowledge occurs with each lifetime. However, this > > > > > did not go over too well with the scientific community, so I decided > > > > > to package and market souls, still waiting for the first buyer, seems > > > > > no one is really interested in having one, I guess it's the > > > > > maintenance aspect that is the deterrent. > > > > > How the infinity thread transitioned to soul is beyond reach for me, > > > > > but I just ride the river when it flows. One never knows when the > > > > > amenities of life will cease to be, so eat when there is food and > > > > > laugh in times of jest. I agree that the more we are in tune with our > > > > > soul the more the Spirit of cosmic knowledge becomes our cornucopia of > > > > > infinite experience. > > > > > Perhaps we are escapees from an exploding Krypton that happened upon a > > > > > sustainable planet or dumped here by beings from the other side of the > > > > > black hole. For me none of that matters because I still relax in the > > > > > Jacuzzi under the stars or in the midday, reflecting on my life in the > > > > > past, the present or the future. > > > > > I would not discount the rational mind so dismissively as it tends to > > > > > lay out a clearly defined map that bypasses all the garbage and stench > > > > > of the disparaged world. We must rationalize in order to establish > > > > > order within ourselves and that part of the world that is immediately > > > > > around us. The soul avoids detriment through the rational mind. There > > > > > are two sides to rationale Molly, and yes it is true that some use > > > > > rationale to avoid much about soul. I personally cannot ignore it, as > > > > > I know my paintings, music, and general artistry and multiplicity come > > > > > from somewhere beyond here. I wasn't given the name hombre milagro for > > > > > nothing. The name comes from the fact that I have the innate sense > > > > > that I can do anything that my mind sets forth to do. And, if that is > > > > > unachievable there will be someone else that will simply come along to > > > > > get it done for me. I've learned much in this lifetime so far and > > > > > have much more to learn as we all do, as individuals and as > > > > > societies. > > > > > We struggle and press forward in the hope that one day, as in a dream, > > > > > life will simply become the utopia it was meant to be. I find no need > > > > > for economic systems, but simply the need for each to understand that > > > > > souls, as much as being individual, are all part of a unity of cosmic > > > > > knowledge. I don't see this happening any time soon because humanity > > > > > is continually preoccupied with self. > > > > > > On Mar 16, 2:17 pm, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > I am so sorry to be late to this discussion! As I read through the > > > > > > many viewpoints, I can't help but see the thread of truth in all - > > > > > > and > > > > > > that thread leads to soul! I see the soul as our eternal vessel, > > > > > > holding our identity from all lives, karma, and also having senses > > > > > > like the body has senses. "Let those with eyes see!" This well > > > > > > known > > > > > > passage, of course, refers to soul vision. I think that like the > > > > > > ego, > > > > > > that holds our personality and patterns of sensation coming from the > > > > > > physical senses, our soul allows us sensations of spirit and the > > > > > > infinite. The more in tune we are to our soul and all it offers, > > > > > > the > > > > > > more we allow God, or spirit or the infinite aspect of life into our > > > > > > lives and experience. The more in tune we are with our rational > > > > > > mind, > > > > > > the less our soulful nature is expressed. > > > > > > > Of course, everything expressed here is true, because each of us > > > > > > has a > > > > > > viewpoint that reflects varying degrees of rationality and > > > > > > soulfulness. > > > > > > > I marvel at Justin's ability to make the philosophical case for the > > > > > > possibility of soul, as it requires neither time nor space, but > > > > > > realizes both through the recognition of our individual lives and > > > > > > moments. I can also appreciate Pat's ability to allow physics to > > > > > > lead > > > > > > the way to soul, and while we may not have definitive theories > > > > > > today, > > > > > > there may be some tomorrow with a simple change in viewpoint. I > > > > > > smile, of course, and agree with Neil's plea for soul to show itself > > > > > > in this world with love and harmony. And empathize with Slip's > > > > > > intuitive understanding, which I can feel and understand best. > > > > > > Vam's > > > > > > words are like water, the very nature of spirit. And gabby, like > > > > > > the > > > > > > bible, leads us along with allegory, very soulful, indeed. > > > > > > > Of course you know, that I believe this group to be a wonderful soul > > > > > > process, as we hold the space of possibility in points across the > > > > > > globe. Thanks for the contemplation. > > > > > > > On Mar 15, 1:59 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Wood, you have > > ... > > read more » --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. 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