Conscious Experience Research Articles

Normativity of Conscious Experience and the Hard Problem of Content

Normativity of Conscious Experience and the Hard Problem of Content

Return to the Mental Interpretation of the Nature of Life

Bringing consciousness into the realm of the mind and returning the mind to the essence of life, the core is how to place the self of life. It is necessary to provide answers within the realm of the central intelligence of life and explore its natural realization in order to overcome the difficulty of consciousness. Firstly, in our view, consciousness is merely a common interpretation of the state of the mind, which is essentially integrated into life and contained in life traits. Therefore, the interpretation of the mind should be projected onto the characteristics of life itself and project onto phenomena. Understanding the mind also requires solving some basic problems and establishing interpretation norms: firstly, the basis of argument is to establish three classification concepts for objects in the sense of structure function: non self energy system, self energy system, and quasi self energy system, in order to determine a sphere of existence for life and the central intelligence of life, and to explain the available effects and spiritual phenomena of the mind; Secondly, in order to overcome the problem of the use of names for the detriment of the meaning of the word, issues such as mind and intelligence, mind and brain in mental understanding were distinguished, and the real-life experiences of consciousness were questioned. The problems in the understanding of mind such as mind and intelligence, mind and brain, and traces the reality of what happens to consciousness. Then, a summary statement was made on the occurrence and evolution of life, as well as the spiritual phenomena that arise with the supply and use effect of the mind. From the perspective of availability, based on the biological value of life control, the sense of dependence on motion, the functionality of memory, image and image flow editing, and self reflection and self illumination, the possible abilities of the mind were stated.

Have I Been Touched? Subjective and Objective Aspects of Tactile Awareness.

Somatosensory tactile experience is a key aspect of our interaction with the environment. It is involved in object manipulation, in the planning and control of actions and, in its affective components, in the relationships with other individuals. It is also a foundational component of body awareness. An intriguing aspect of sensory perception in general and tactile perception in particular is the way in which stimulation comes to consciousness. Indeed, although being aware of something seems a rather self-evident and monolithic aspect of our mental states, sensory awareness may be in fact modulated by many different processes that impact on the mere stimulation of the skin, including the way in which we perceive our bodies as belonging to us. In this review, we first took into consideration the pathological conditions of absence of phenomenal experience of touch, in the presence of implicit processing, as initial models for understanding the neural bases of conscious tactile experience. Subsequently, we discussed cases of tactile illusions both in normal subjects and in brain-damaged patients which help to understand which high-order processes impact tactile awareness. Finally, we discussed the observations reported in the review in light of some influential models of touch and body representation.

The Psychosocial Developmental Phases of Death (Mortality) Awareness: What Educational Therapists should know when working with Terminally Ill Clients

This conceptual paper explores death and dying (mortality) from scientific, philosophical, and psychosocial perspectives, emphasizing its multidimensionality. Scientifically, death signifies the cessation of biological functions, while philosophically, it marks the end of conscious experience. Psychosocially, death encompasses emotional, cultural, and social dimensions, shaped by beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Educational therapists play a crucial role in navigating the psychosocial aspects of death, providing support and guidance to individuals and families coping with loss and grief. Across cultures, diverse rites and rituals as well as mourning practices aid in navigating its challenges. Focusing on death awareness from a psychosocial standpoint, this paper highlights its profound psychological implications, especially within the Eriksonian developmental theory, which is the main focus of this paper. The author has also suggested that future research could integrate interdisciplinary approaches to gain a holistic understanding of death, examining biological, philosophical, and psychosocial intersections. Practical applications could include enhancing palliative care, bereavement support, and mental health interventions, with educational therapists playing a pivotal role in these palliative endeavors. Studying cultural variations in approaching death or mortality could deepen our appreciation of human experiences. Longitudinal studies could track the evolution of individuals’ attitudes towards death and its impact on well-being. Overall, further research on death and dying, with the involvement of educational therapists, can help to enrich our current comprehension of death’s implications for humanity.

The experimental study of consciousness: Is psychology travelling back to the future?

It was with the promise of rendering an experimental approach to consciousness that psychology started its trajectory as an independent science more than 150 years ago. Here, we will posit that the neurosciences were instrumental in leading psychology to resume the study of consciousness by projecting an empirical agenda for the future. First, we will start by showing how scientists were able to venture into the consciousness of supposedly unconscious patients, opening the door for the identification of important neural correlates of distinct consciousness states. Then, we will describe how different technological advances and elegant experimental paradigms helped in establishing important neuronal correlates of global consciousness (i.e., being conscious at all), perceptual consciousness (i.e., being conscious of something), and self-consciousness (i.e., being conscious of itself). Finally, we will illustrate how the study of complex consciousness experiences may contribute to the clarification of the mechanisms associated with global consciousness, the relationship between perceptual and self-consciousness, and the interface among distinct self-consciousness domains. In closing, we will elaborate on the road ahead of us for re-establishing psychology as a science of consciousness.

Less-is-more: auditory strategies for reduced reality

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a reduced reality [RR] concept of less-is-more that virtual reality [VR] designers can use to create technological frameworks which reduce sensory overload and allow for better concentration and focus, less stress, and novel scenarios. We question the approach taken by scholars in the field of extended reality [XR] research, where the focus is typically to design and use technology that adds sensory information to the user’s perceptual field, and we address some of the confusion related to the typical uses of the term reality. To address the latter terminological muddle, we define reality as our conscious experience of the environment, an emergent perception, and we use this definition as the basis for a discussion on the role of sound in balancing sensory information and in the construction of less cluttered and less stressful perceptual environments. We further discuss current auditory strategies that reduce and alter auditory stimuli, and we suggest potential future strategies for RR that use crossmodal design approaches, masking, and filtering techniques.

Clinical narrative and the painful side of conscious experience

ABSTRACT This article explores a literary tradition situated at the intersection of scientific reports, memoirs, and creative writing, termed “clinical narrative.” This genre offers a profound approach to the painful aspects of conscious experience, particularly the phenomenological states associated with mental illness and brain disease, seen as unsettling landscapes of phenomenal experience. Through case studies providing multifaceted viewpoints – first-person, second-person, and third-person perspectives – we argue that clinical narratives are valuable resources for a transepistemic study of consciousness. By examining clinical conundrums such as somatic and nihilistic delusions, and anosognosia, we highlight the importance of detailed phenomenological, hermeneutic, and narrative accounts while acknowledging the significance of subpersonal, mechanistic models from cognitive and affective neuroscience. The tradition embodies the tension between the diverse perspectives in the field of mental health, including stories that directly challenge the medical discourse. However, the narrative arts can act as mediators or even peacemakers, by fostering an understanding between the opposing views. Stories are open to multiple interpretations, preserving the diversity of discourses on human meaning and avoiding the imposition of monolithic versions of our humanness.

How Social Influence Promotes the Adoption of Mobile Health among Young Adults in China: A Systematic Analysis of Trust, Health Consciousness, and User Experience.

As mobile health (mHealth) offers several advantages in healthcare, researchers are exploring the motivational factors for its adoption. However, few studies have elucidated the complex relationship between social influence and behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth among young adults in China. This study explored the impact of social influence on young adults' behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth, the mediating roles of trust and health consciousness, and the moderating effect of mHealth user experience on the relationship between the predictors. In total, 300 valid responses were collected from a university in China, and a research model was developed. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to verify the relationship between the main research variables. mHealth adoption behavioral intentions among young adults were significantly positively impacted by social influence; it indirectly increased mHealth adoption behavioral intentions by positively affecting trust and health consciousness. mHealth use weakened the positive impact of social influence on trust and health consciousness, while user experience positively moderated the relationship between health consciousness and behavioral intentions. Trust and health consciousness play important roles in the complex multivariate relationships between social influence and behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth. Future research should consider the moderating role of the mHealth user experience. These findings enrich the mHealth technology acceptance theory framework and provide specific guidance strategies for marketing mHealth applications.

An Examination of Learning Using Fourier Analysis of Mathematical Models of Consciousness

The concept of consciousness remains quite possibly the ultimate mystery for humanity. It is somehow linked to the ability to learn and experience the external environment. The process of learning is of utmost importance to any species and yet remains largely not understood. While many experts from varying fields throughout history have attempted to quantify and measure learning, all failed to capture the process with a mathematical explanation. The purpose of this paper is to present three different models of consciousness and their related Fourier transform and evaluate the ability of each to capture some of the behavior that is understood about the conscious experience. There is some evidence that the experience of consciousness as a function of time can be measured in an expression of phase. With this hypothesis, the technique of Fourier transform becomes a useful tool to examine a mathematical model of consciousness that can be transformed from the phase plane to the linearization of time. This paper summarizes some current research on consciousness and learning and perception of time. This paper then presents three different models of consciousness represented as a pulse function, Dirac Delta function, and exponential decay function and examines each model utilizing Fourier transform. Finally, this paper concludes that the intersection between psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science can be made by utilizing analysis tools in the field of applied mathematics.

"Transcendental Architecture: Bio Geometry in Meditation Halls"

This research paper investigates the impact of pyramid-shaped meditation halls on human consciousness and spiritual experiences. Drawing from the principles of bio geometry and neuroscience, this study explored how the unique shape of the pyramid affects brain waves and mental states. Through a comprehensive analysis of the past data of frequency intensity within pyramid-shaped meditation halls compared to other shapes, this study elucidates the potential for pyramid architecture to enhance the journey towards ultimate consciousness. The data presented in tables and charts demonstrate the intensity of brainwave frequencies, providing valuable insights for architects and designers seeking to create transformative spiritual spaces. Key Words: transcendental architecture, bio geometry, consciousness, brainwave frequencies.

Varieties of Revelation, Varieties of Truth—A Comparative Ontological Study of Revelation through Music and Sciences

Accounts of revelation and contemporary views of these are based on beliefs and historical citations. These accounts shall not be limited to the understanding and interpreting of historical and other events within writings but must present the possibility of an objective analysis of the nature of revelation as a phenomenon, an object of our sensory and mental conscious experiences. This paper approaches the act or phenomenon of revelation regardless of the revealer and its nature. Can we abstract the revealer and the revealed from revelation and have an ontological account of revelation solely focusing on the occurrence itself? The central part of the discussion is based on the object/property pair as ontological categories through which the means are analyzed. A comparative method is used where Scripture, musical writings, and mathematical/physical formulae (as potential means of revelation) are scrutinized. As a result, without any need to determine the revealer, revelation can be based on and described through pure properties (not tropes) in human experience, intellect, and understanding. The possibility of revelation beyond Scripture and Jesus Christ—following a type of liberal and general theory of revelation—presents itself in arts and sciences. The “true” of a musical work, when found and experienced during musical performances and scientific truths represented by the formulae, which describe the world and a meta domain, can be derived from the chains of signs and symbols as it is through Scripture. Human cognitive faculties present a universal natural limit to our direct experiencing of the transcendent, of the supernatural. A new dualist conception of logos as a metaphysical category marks the domain bridging the non-transcendent with the transcendent.

Examining the relations among working memory capacity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomology, and conscious experience.

Examining the relations among working memory capacity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomology, and conscious experience.

The presence of fear: How subjective fear, not physiological changes, shapes the experience of presence.

When we become engrossed in novels, films, games, or even our own wandering thoughts, we can feel present in a reality distinct from the real world. Although this subjective sense of presence is, presumably, a ubiquitous aspect of conscious experience, the mechanisms that produce it are unknown. Correlational studies conducted in virtual reality have shown that we feel more present when we are afraid, motivating claims that physiological changes contribute to presence; however, such causal claims remain to be evaluated. Here, we report two experiments that test the causal role of subjective and physiological components of fear (i.e., activation of the sympathetic nervous system) in generating presence. In Study 1, we validated a virtual reality simulation capable of inducing fear. Participants rated their emotions while they crossed a wooden plank that appeared to be suspended above a city street; at the same time, we recorded heart rate and skin conductance levels. Height exposure increased ratings of fear, presence, and both measures of sympathetic activation. Although presence and fear ratings were correlated during height exposure, presence and sympathetic activation were unrelated. In Study 2, we manipulated whether the plank appeared at height or at ground level. We also captured participants' movements, which revealed that alongside increases in subjective fear, presence, and sympathetic activation, participants also moved more slowly at height relative to controls. Using a mediational approach, we found that the relationship between height exposure and presence on the plank was fully mediated by self-reported fear, and not by sympathetic activation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Consciousness and Perspectival De Se content

Most people think indexical thought has special content (de se content). However, it has been acknowledged that classical examples, such as those offered by Perry and Lewis, are insufficient to establish this conclusion. Ongoing discussions typically focus on first-person beliefs and their relationship to the explanation of successful behavior and linguistic practices. Instead, I want to direct attention to the phenomenal content of our conscious experiences and the largely neglected contribution that its comprehension can make to the way in which first-person representation is understood. This paper offers a novel argument for both the existence and a specific interpretation of the essential indexicality thesis based on widely accepted assumptions regarding the relation between phenomenology and representation. Specifically, I will argue that if (i) two different individuals can have token experiences with the same phenomenology and ii) two token experiences of ordinary subjects with the same phenomenology have the same phenomenal content, then phenomenal content is de se content of a particular kind: perspectival de se content.

Testing the Conjecture That Quantum Processes Create Conscious Experience.

The question of what generates conscious experience has mesmerized thinkers since the dawn of humanity, yet its origins remain a mystery. The topic of consciousness has gained traction in recent years, thanks to the development of large language models that now arguably pass the Turing test, an operational test for intelligence. However, intelligence and consciousness are not related in obvious ways, as anyone who suffers from a bad toothache can attest-pain generates intense feelings and absorbs all our conscious awareness, yet nothing particularly intelligent is going on. In the hard sciences, this topic is frequently met with skepticism because, to date, no protocol to measure the content or intensity of conscious experiences in an observer-independent manner has been agreed upon. Here, we present a novel proposal: Conscious experience arises whenever a quantum mechanical superposition forms. Our proposal has several implications: First, it suggests that the structure of the superposition determines the qualia of the experience. Second, quantum entanglement naturally solves the binding problem, ensuring the unity of phenomenal experience. Finally, a moment of agency may coincide with the formation of a superposition state. We outline a research program to experimentally test our conjecture via a sequence of quantum biology experiments. Applying these ideas opens up the possibility of expanding human conscious experience through brain-quantum computer interfaces.

Traditional Arab Language Teaching Adapted to English Language Teaching at MTs Nurul Huda VII

Sorogan is a teaching method by facing the teacher one by one by bringing the book to be studied. This sorogan method is the most difficult method of the entire education system in pesantren. Because this system requires patience, diligence, obedience, and personal discipline from students. This research aims to adapt Arabic language teaching to English and explain the successful application of the Sorogan method in Arabic. The general focus of this research is to study/examine the nature or structure of experience in human consciousness using a qualitative methodology that applies subjectivity and interpersonal skills in the exploratory research process. The results of the research can be concluded that when the researcher was explaining how to teach using the Sorogan method. Students will focus on translation only, and the teacher will focus on finding errors in the words the students read. And the teacher will explain the meaning of the material when he finds sentences that need to be explained. And sometimes the teacher will ask about the form of a word, phrase or sentence which the teacher knows he has explained.

Formation of stulents' skills to use physical culture through awareness of the features of endurance development

The purpose of the study was to clarify the views of the authors on the peculiarities of the development of endurance and the formation of students' awareness of such peculiarities in the process of physical education classes. The subject discussion of the work is the disclosure of the need to consciously use the knowledge of the development of various physical abilities in the areas of sports, health and vocational training as the key foundations of the students' conscious perception of the features of using physical exercises. Carrying out work tasks through the analysis of pedagogical literature, literature on physical culture and information from the Internet about the main features of the development of endurance through the use of physical exercises in sports, health and vocational training makes it possible to direct the educational directions of familiarizing students with the characteristics of training processes, enriching conscious experience use of means of physical culture. Such aspects should be considered the novelty of the research. The conclusions point to the understanding of the contents defined by the topic, emphasize the views on the relevance of introducing into the educational process of practical physical education aspects of the activation of students' conscious perception of methodical features of endurance development through the improvement of self-control skills, planning of physical load through the study of the limits of functional indicators under the influence of physical exercises.

The Emergence of Consciousness in a Physical Universe

Consciousness appears so mysterious and hard to formulate within physical sciences because the present day scientific thinking excludes an element of reality and a general mechanics of its processing from its consideration. The primary missing element is the reality of information in the physical universe as an intrinsic causal correlate of observable physical states. Moreover, there exists a general formalism of information processing that is universally applicable to the processing resulting from each physical interaction. As shown, the formalism further enables a general mechanism to construct arbitrary structured and abstract semantics or object description in modular hierarchy as well as a powerful mechanism of population coding to represent arbitrary precision and variation in object description resolving the combinatorial problem. Here, a semantic value, or simply semantics, is equivalent (\(\equiv\)) to the content of information of causal correlation, and treated as a value to enable its formal processing. The primary motive here is to lay down a formal account of information (semantic) processing that leads to bridging the conceptual gap between the objectively observable elements in nature and the subjective consciousness. It is shown that the qualities we associate with consciousness are causally correlated semantics of relation that a represented agency holds with other objects within a dynamically evolving semantic structure, where the state of the population of physical systems (neurons) correlating with the structure holds causal powers to effect appropriate behavior. Since the information (semantic value) arises from natural causal dependence, the correlation based consciousness forms an undeniable reality of existence. It is derived here how a semantic value equivalent to ‘a self as an observer of objects and controller of actions’ is constructed. If the semantic components of a conscious experience, such as the self, the objects of experience, and the relation of experience attributing the self as the owner or experiencer, causally correlate with a system’s state having causal influence in action, then it suffices to bridge the gap between the objective reality and the subjective consciousness. That is, the semantic value corresponding to the thoughts and senses is the reality of nature the semantics of self relates to as the owner. Moreover, the semantics of ‘self as an observer and controller of action’ is itself shown to form a part of observed objects giving rise to self awareness.

Neurophenomenology in Action: Integrating the First-Person Perspective into the Libet Experiment

In this conceptual contribution, we argue that experimental investigations of phenomena in the cognitive sciences and consciousness research may benefit from a thorough integration of data acquired from the first-person perspective. We present a line of research from our lab applying this approach to the Libet task on voluntary action. In this well-known experimental paradigm, participants perform a movement at a moment of their own choice. Previous research has shown that this voluntary decision to perform the action is preceded by a specific pattern in the electroencephalogram, the so-called readiness potential. This finding that the decision is preceded (and presumably determined) by an action-related brain processes puts the neuroscientific account at odds with our subjective intuition and challenges the notion of free will. This discrepancy exemplifies the gap between neuro-cognitive models of the mind and the accounts of our conscious experience. The aim of our theoretical proposal is to enrich the study of volitional action by integrating reports from the first-person perspective with the Libet paradigm to develop a more coherent account. This provides an example of implementing the research program of neurophenomenology developed by Francisco Varela to overcome the gap between scientific accounts of the mind and subjective experience. Specifically, we show how this can be achieved by interweaving three methodological approaches: (i) adapting common neuro-cognitive paradigms (i.e., the Libet task); (ii) employing refined first-person methods such as the micro-phenomenological interview; and (iii) collaborating with experienced meditators as research participants. Our contribution demonstrates how the neurophenomenological framework can be used to shed new light on long-standing and fundamental debates in consciousness research. We show that this approach not only addresses questions of intellectual curiosity but also has concrete ethical implications for the practice of science itself, self-determination, and the accountability of the conscious subject. On the basis of our approach, meditation can be seen as a method for enhancing self-regulation and self-determination, which allows for more deliberate decisions and thus more ethical behavior.

Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review.

Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various studies suggest a link between the subjective effects produced by psychedelics and their therapeutic efficacy. Neuroimaging evidence indicates an association of changes in brain functional connectivity with the subjective effects of psychedelics. We conducted a review focusing on psychedelics and brain functional connectivity. The review focused on four psychedelic drugs: ayahuasca, psilocybin and LSD, and the entactogen MDMA. We conducted searches in databases of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Scopus from inception to Jun 2023 by keywords related to functional connectivity and psychedelics. Using the PRISMA framework, we selected 24 articles from an initial pool of 492 for analysis. This scoping review and analysis investigated the effects of psychedelics on subjective experiences and brain functional connectivity in healthy individuals. The studies quantified subjective effects through psychometric scales, revealing significant experiences of altered consciousness, mood elevation, and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. Neuroimaging results indicated alterations in the functional connectivity of psychedelics, with consistent findings across substances of decreased connectivity within the default mode network and increased sensory and thalamocortical connectivity. Correlations between these neurophysiological changes and subjective experiences were noted, suggesting a brain network basis of the psychedelics' neuropsychological impact. While the result of the review provides a potential neural mechanism of the subjective effects of psychedelics, direct clinical evidence is needed to advance their clinical outcomes. Our research serves as a foundation for further exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.