Task 1 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the main aim of the science of consciousness?
To explain subjective experiences.
What is the difference between first-person and third-person data?
First-person data refers to subjective experiences, while third-person data includes brain processes, behavior, and environmental interactions.
Why is it difficult to develop first-person methodologies?
Because introspection can alter experiences, not all experiences can be accessed at once, and illusions can occur.
What is a Neural Correlate of Consciousness (NCC)?
The neural system primarily associated with conscious experience.
Name three suggested NCCs.
40-Hz oscillations in the cerebral cortex, re-entrant loops in thalamocortical systems, and the global workspace model.
Why can’t we directly measure consciousness?
Because we lack a consciousness meter and must rely on interpretation principles.
What is the Principle of Verbal Report?
If information is verbally reported, it is assumed to be conscious.
How does the Principle of Reportability extend the Principle of Verbal Report?
It considers that people do not always report everything they are conscious of.
What principle is used to infer consciousness in nonverbal subjects like monkeys?
If information is available for global control in a cognitive system, it is conscious.
What defines a vegetative state?
A condition where patients appear awake but show no signs of awareness.
How did fMRI studies challenge the vegetative state diagnosis?
Some patients showed neural responses to spoken commands despite being behaviorally unresponsive.
What evidence suggested the 23-year-old woman in Owen’s study was conscious?
She activated brain areas associated with mental imagery when given specific tasks.
What is the significance of the “tennis and house” mental imagery tasks?
They showed that some vegetative patients could follow commands using brain activity rather than movement
What did Monti (2010) find regarding communication in vegetative patients?
One patient successfully answered yes/no questions by modulating brain activity.
What limitation does fMRI have in detecting consciousness?
It can detect neural activity but cannot confirm subjective awareness.
Why is it difficult to develop a formalism for expressing first-person data?
Language is imprecise, and if someone has never had a given experience, descriptions may be meaningless to them.
What is the role of the thalamus in consciousness?
It is involved in many proposed NCCs, including the intralaminar nucleus and re-entrant loops in thalamocortical systems.
What does the global workspace theory propose?
Consciousness arises from information being globally available across brain systems
How do 40-Hz oscillations relate to consciousness?
They are thought to facilitate synchronized neural activity associated with conscious experience.
Why are bridging principles necessary in consciousness research?
Because we cannot measure consciousness directly, we use principles to infer it from behavior and brain activity.
How does the principle of global availability relate to consciousness?
If information can be used across multiple cognitive systems, it is considered conscious.
What is a limitation of using verbal report as a measure of consciousness?
It applies only to subjects with language and may not capture all aspects of conscious experience.
What ethical dilemmas arise from fMRI studies on consciousness?
Families may face difficult decisions regarding care if a patient shows signs of awareness but cannot communicate.
Why is the claim that fMRI confirms consciousness controversial?
Neural activity does not necessarily mean the patient has subjective awareness.
