Consciousness

Question 1

What is the Astonishing Hypothesis?

Answer 1

Introduced by Francis Crick: our consciousness is produced by the activity of neurones. Our mind is what the brain produces (monism)

Question 2

What is dualism?

Answer 2

Introduced by Descartes: our mind and body are seperate.

Question 3

What does fMRI stand for and what does it do?

Answer 3

Functional magnetic resonance imaging. Used to decode what people are imagining. Thoughts have specific physical representations in the brain.

Question 4

What is qualia?

Answer 4

The qualitative feeling of an experience beyond knowing information. It is impossible to directly compare qualias

Question 5

Where is consciousness created?

Answer 5

Neural correlates of consciousness (NCC): parts of the brain that correlate with conscious experiences. Neural activity does not cause consciousness.

Question 6

What is neural synchrony?

Answer 6

As information is shot off throughout the brain, it resonates at different frequencies

Question 7

What happens to our consciousness as we sleep?

Answer 7

Consciousness disappears. Our memories of dreams often fades very quickly

Question 8

What are the three types of drugs that alter consciousness?

Answer 8

Stimulants
Depressants
Hallucinogens (LSD - Albert Hoffman, Psilocybin, Ayahuasca)