Selfhood

Consciousness Overview

• Definition of Consciousness:

  • Remains one of science's greatest mysteries.

  • Understand through exploring dimensions of consciousness.

• Types of Consciousness:

  • C1 (Global Availability):

  • Associated with the awareness of specific objects (e.g., being aware of the fuel-tank light).

  • Allows for further cognitive processes, verbalizations, and actions.

  • C2 (Self-Monitoring):

  • Refers to self-awareness and monitoring of thoughts and actions.

  • Leads to subjective experiences of error or certainty.

Theories of Consciousness

• Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCCs):

  • Focus on identifying minimal neural events required for conscious states.

• Four Prominent Theoretical Approaches:

  • Higher-order theories: Suggest consciousness involves higher-level representations of thoughts.

  • Global Workspace Theory: Proposes a network that broadcasts information across the brain.

  • Re-entry and Predictive Processing Theories: Emphasize feedback loops in processing information.

  • Integrated Information Theory: Focuses on the integration of information processed in the brain.

Minimal Phenomenal Selfhood (MPS)

• Definition:

  • Refers to the conscious experience of one’s own self and being a distinct entity.

• Key Studies:

  • Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI): Investigates how sensory inputs can lead to the illusion of body ownership.

  • Full-Body Illusion (FBI): Participants experience ownership over a virtual body.

Important Concepts Related to MPS:

• Bodily Self-Consciousness:

  • The nonconceptual and prereflective processing related to body perception.

• Phantom Limb Phenomena:

  • Experiences of a missing limb that is still felt and incorporated into the conscious experience, indicating a neural representation of self that persists independent of physical presence.

Discussion Questions

• How “real” is the full-body illusion?

• How does the MPS relate to concepts of qualia?

• Are there connections between MPS and levels of consciousness?