The Consciousness Problem

These flashcards summarize key concepts related to the consciousness problem as discussed in the lecture.

What is the 'hard problem' of consciousness according to cognitive neuroscience?

Explaining how chemical interactions in the body produce subjective conscious experience.

What is access awareness?

The ability to report on the contents of mental experience.

What brain structures are involved in arousal and regulating sleep-wake cycles?

The brainstem, thalamus, and reticular activating system.

What does the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus do?

Acts as the body’s circadian pacemaker.

What type of processing is subliminal processing?

Brain activity evoked by a stimulus that is below the threshold for awareness.

What characterizes core consciousness according to Damasio?

The organism is alive, awake, alert, and aware of one movement now and one place here.

How does damage to the brainstem affect consciousness?

Disconnecting this part of the brain can lead to death and loss of consciousness.

What does the theory of global workspace suggest about consciousness?

Consciousness enables multiple networks in the brain to cooperate and compete to solve problems.

What is blindsight?

A phenomenon where patients with a lesion in their visual cortex can respond to visual stimuli without being consciously aware of them.

What does the principle of complementarity in quantum mechanics suggest?

That systems have two simultaneous modes of description which are not reducible to one another.

How do mental states affect behavior according to the lecture?

Beliefs and thoughts can constrain future actions and decision-making processes.

What is the relationship between consciousness and the modular organization of the brain?

Different neural circuits specialize in processing specific aspects of conscious experience.

What evidence suggests that consciousness can exist without cortical processing?

Observations of individuals with minimal cortical structures who still exhibit subjective experiences.

What is the implication of split-brain research on our understanding of consciousness?

It suggests that consciousness can arise from different parts of the brain and is not dependent on a single consciousness circuit.

Can animals exhibit conscious experience?

Yes, structural modules in animal brains suggest varying consciousness depending on neural processing capabilities.