teaching:cndm:cndm_topic_consciousness
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| teaching:cndm:cndm_topic_consciousness [2019/08/17 13:26] – anthony | teaching:cndm:cndm_topic_consciousness [2019/09/30 13:21] (current) – ↷ Links adapted because of a move operation 66.249.65.215 | ||
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| ====== Topic: Consciousness ====== | ====== Topic: Consciousness ====== | ||
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| + | Is consciousness necessary for decision making? | ||
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| ====== Article Discussed ====== | ====== Article Discussed ====== | ||
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| Soon, C. S., Brass, M., Heinze, H.-J., & Haynes, J.-D. (2008). Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain. Nature Neuroscience, | Soon, C. S., Brass, M., Heinze, H.-J., & Haynes, J.-D. (2008). Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain. Nature Neuroscience, | ||
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| ====== Brief Summary ====== | ====== Brief Summary ====== | ||
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| This week’s topic was Consciousness and we read the article, // | This week’s topic was Consciousness and we read the article, // | ||
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| ====== Cognitive Process Neuroimaging Analysis ====== | ====== Cognitive Process Neuroimaging Analysis ====== | ||
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| Neurosynth Term: " | Neurosynth Term: " | ||
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| ===== Top 5 Pubmed Articles ===== | ===== Top 5 Pubmed Articles ===== | ||
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| 1: Schnakers C, Monti MM. Disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury: therapeutic options. Curr Opin Neurol. 2017 Dec; | 1: Schnakers C, Monti MM. Disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury: therapeutic options. Curr Opin Neurol. 2017 Dec; | ||
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| 5: Bayne T, Hohwy J, Owen AM. Are There Levels of Consciousness? | 5: Bayne T, Hohwy J, Owen AM. Are There Levels of Consciousness? | ||
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| ===== Top 5 Neurosynth Articles ===== | ===== Top 5 Neurosynth Articles ===== | ||
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| |[[http:// | |[[http:// | ||
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| |[[http:// | |[[http:// | ||
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| ===== Neurosynth map for the term ===== | ===== Neurosynth map for the term ===== | ||
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| {{teaching: | {{teaching: | ||
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| ===== Brain region chosen for the term ===== | ===== Brain region chosen for the term ===== | ||
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| Brain Region: “brainstem” | Brain Region: “brainstem” | ||
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| {{teaching: | {{teaching: | ||
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| ===== Other Neurosynth terms associated with this brain region ===== | ===== Other Neurosynth terms associated with this brain region ===== | ||
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| | | Individual voxel | Seed-based network | | | | Individual voxel | Seed-based network | | ||
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| | somatosensory | | somatosensory | ||
| | finger | | finger | ||
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| ====== Questions posed by the class ====== | ====== Questions posed by the class ====== | ||
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| ===== Background vocabulary ===== | ===== Background vocabulary ===== | ||
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| ==== Q: What is a Gaussian Normal Distribution? | ==== Q: What is a Gaussian Normal Distribution? | ||
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| Gaussian Normal Distribution is the same thing as normal distribution - distributions with symmetric, bell-shaped curves (Normal Distribution, | Gaussian Normal Distribution is the same thing as normal distribution - distributions with symmetric, bell-shaped curves (Normal Distribution, | ||
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| ==== Q: What is BA10? ==== | ==== Q: What is BA10? ==== | ||
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| * (Roca et al., 2011) | * (Roca et al., 2011) | ||
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| ==== Q: What is meant by double dissociation in the quote, “double dissociation in the very early stages between brain regions shaping the specific outcome of the motor decision and brain regions determining the timing of a motor decision? | ==== Q: What is meant by double dissociation in the quote, “double dissociation in the very early stages between brain regions shaping the specific outcome of the motor decision and brain regions determining the timing of a motor decision? | ||
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| Double dissociation is when two related mental processes are shown to function independently of each other. A good example of this is speech and language. Both are used in language but the brain structures that control them work independently. By establishing double dissociation, | Double dissociation is when two related mental processes are shown to function independently of each other. A good example of this is speech and language. Both are used in language but the brain structures that control them work independently. By establishing double dissociation, | ||
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| ==== Q: What is figure 2 telling us? ==== | ==== Q: What is figure 2 telling us? ==== | ||
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| Figure 2 shows us the outcome of decisions before and after awareness is reached. The green colored regions shown in the brain on the bottom show the regions where the outcome of a motor decision could be decoded before it was made and the red colored regions in the brain at the top show the outcome of the the motor decision after it had been made. | Figure 2 shows us the outcome of decisions before and after awareness is reached. The green colored regions shown in the brain on the bottom show the regions where the outcome of a motor decision could be decoded before it was made and the red colored regions in the brain at the top show the outcome of the the motor decision after it had been made. | ||
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| ==== Q: What is being shown in Figure 9? ==== | ==== Q: What is being shown in Figure 9? ==== | ||
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| Figure 9 is analyzing the voxel selectivity in regards to decision making. Voxel selectivity is a type of analysis derived from MRI testing that helps to give further insight to what portions of the brain are stimulated in response to different types of stimuli. Figure 9 demonstrates how much either the left or right portion of the frontopolar cortex is used in decision making, within a ratio of both portions of the brain being used throughout. Some stimuli resulted in higher activity of the left portion, with others showing higher activity of the right portion, but both portions are always being used to some degree. This information suggests that both left and right portions are used in long-term predictive information encoding, but rarely in equal amounts. In a similar study, responses to categorically coherent stimuli were recorded using voxel selectivity, | Figure 9 is analyzing the voxel selectivity in regards to decision making. Voxel selectivity is a type of analysis derived from MRI testing that helps to give further insight to what portions of the brain are stimulated in response to different types of stimuli. Figure 9 demonstrates how much either the left or right portion of the frontopolar cortex is used in decision making, within a ratio of both portions of the brain being used throughout. Some stimuli resulted in higher activity of the left portion, with others showing higher activity of the right portion, but both portions are always being used to some degree. This information suggests that both left and right portions are used in long-term predictive information encoding, but rarely in equal amounts. In a similar study, responses to categorically coherent stimuli were recorded using voxel selectivity, | ||
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| ==== Q: What is considered a “free decision”? | ==== Q: What is considered a “free decision”? | ||
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| A free decision is a decision that can be made with nothing predetermined and knowledge of the possible outcomes of the different possible choices. The article below shows that there is strong evidence that the brain functions very differently when making free decisions versus following instructions. The article says that “free choice activates a decision circuit between frontal and parietal cortex” (Pesaran, Nelson & Andersen, 2008). | A free decision is a decision that can be made with nothing predetermined and knowledge of the possible outcomes of the different possible choices. The article below shows that there is strong evidence that the brain functions very differently when making free decisions versus following instructions. The article says that “free choice activates a decision circuit between frontal and parietal cortex” (Pesaran, Nelson & Andersen, 2008). | ||
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| ===== Libet’s clock and the readiness potential ===== | ===== Libet’s clock and the readiness potential ===== | ||
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| ==== Q: What is Libet’s clock? ==== | ==== Q: What is Libet’s clock? ==== | ||
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| Although conscious awareness of the decision was found to precede the subjects motion, the rise in Type 2 readiness potential was clearly visible before the flex of the wrist (Benjamin Libet and The Denial of Free Will, n.d.). | Although conscious awareness of the decision was found to precede the subjects motion, the rise in Type 2 readiness potential was clearly visible before the flex of the wrist (Benjamin Libet and The Denial of Free Will, n.d.). | ||
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| ==== Q: Are there any situations in which readiness potential can be eliminated, such as in instances where a subject has a huge adrenaline rush and acts without seeming to be in control of themself? ==== | ==== Q: Are there any situations in which readiness potential can be eliminated, such as in instances where a subject has a huge adrenaline rush and acts without seeming to be in control of themself? ==== | ||
| There are some situations that the RP is not used pre consciously for motor control, and that a lot of RPs occurred without motor movement. “This suggests that the RP measured here is unlikely to reflect preconscious motor planning or preparation of an ensuing movement, and instead may reflect decision-related or anticipatory processes that are non-motoric in nature.”. Involuntary movements do not have a strong readiness potential, such as reflexes and eye movement however they are related the to the G. Walter’s expectancy wave for conditioned reflexes. Another argument states that readiness potential represents neural markers that we use to predict the movements of the world around us. It is not found if RP is necessary for movement, but it is shown that it is used to help anticipate the sensory information of the world (Alexander et al., 2016; Kornhuber & Deecke, 2016; Vercillo, O’Neil & Jiang, 2018). | There are some situations that the RP is not used pre consciously for motor control, and that a lot of RPs occurred without motor movement. “This suggests that the RP measured here is unlikely to reflect preconscious motor planning or preparation of an ensuing movement, and instead may reflect decision-related or anticipatory processes that are non-motoric in nature.”. Involuntary movements do not have a strong readiness potential, such as reflexes and eye movement however they are related the to the G. Walter’s expectancy wave for conditioned reflexes. Another argument states that readiness potential represents neural markers that we use to predict the movements of the world around us. It is not found if RP is necessary for movement, but it is shown that it is used to help anticipate the sensory information of the world (Alexander et al., 2016; Kornhuber & Deecke, 2016; Vercillo, O’Neil & Jiang, 2018). | ||
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| ==== Q: which regions of the brain predetermine conscious intentions ==== | ==== Q: which regions of the brain predetermine conscious intentions ==== | ||
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| Readiness potentials originate from brain regions involved in motor preparation, | Readiness potentials originate from brain regions involved in motor preparation, | ||
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| ===== Cortical regions associated with consciousness ===== | ===== Cortical regions associated with consciousness ===== | ||
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| ==== Q: Where is the supplemental motor area (SMA) located in the brain? ==== | ==== Q: Where is the supplemental motor area (SMA) located in the brain? ==== | ||
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| The SMA is located just in front of the primary motor cortex and centered on the midline surface of the hemisphere (Supplementary motor area, 2018). | The SMA is located just in front of the primary motor cortex and centered on the midline surface of the hemisphere (Supplementary motor area, 2018). | ||
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| ==== Q: Can someone insert a clear brain image of the SMA? I find the figure shown in the article to be confusing_consciousness. ==== | ==== Q: Can someone insert a clear brain image of the SMA? I find the figure shown in the article to be confusing_consciousness. ==== | ||
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| (Supplementary_motor_area, | (Supplementary_motor_area, | ||
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| ==== Q: What are the main functions of the SMA? ==== | ==== Q: What are the main functions of the SMA? ==== | ||
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| The Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) plays an important role in the intentional process whereby internal context influences the elaboration of action. It may be viewed as the older motor cortex, derived from anterior cingulate periarchicortical limbic cortex, which, as a key part of a medial premotor system, is crucial in the " | The Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) plays an important role in the intentional process whereby internal context influences the elaboration of action. It may be viewed as the older motor cortex, derived from anterior cingulate periarchicortical limbic cortex, which, as a key part of a medial premotor system, is crucial in the " | ||
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| ==== Q: Is the supplementary motor area the only brain region involved in motor preparation? | ==== Q: Is the supplementary motor area the only brain region involved in motor preparation? | ||
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| No, as with most functions multiple brain regions are involved in motor preparation. “In comparison with a " | No, as with most functions multiple brain regions are involved in motor preparation. “In comparison with a " | ||
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| ==== Q: What are some of the functions of the frontopolar cortex? ==== | ==== Q: What are some of the functions of the frontopolar cortex? ==== | ||
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| The frontopolar cortex (FPC) is a large region occupying the anterior portion of the brain’s frontal lobe, and has been suggested to play a role in complex, higher order behavior. However, the specific contributions of this area toward this type of behavior are still unclear (Boschin, Piekema & Buckley, 2015). | The frontopolar cortex (FPC) is a large region occupying the anterior portion of the brain’s frontal lobe, and has been suggested to play a role in complex, higher order behavior. However, the specific contributions of this area toward this type of behavior are still unclear (Boschin, Piekema & Buckley, 2015). | ||
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| ===== Neuroimaging methods from the study ===== | ===== Neuroimaging methods from the study ===== | ||
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| ==== Q: what does it mean for information to be decoded? ==== | ==== Q: what does it mean for information to be decoded? ==== | ||
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| To explain voxels better, I found another article that explains them in relation to fMRI. Basically, fMRI’s represent brain activity by showing changes in blood oxygen level, but do not show detail at the level of the cell. But, the fMRI image is actually made of voxels (like an image is made up of pixels on TV)_consciousness. THis is because fMRI’s are too slow to caption every change in the brain, because neurons fire 100 times a second and you need at least one second to take a picture, so you can’t tell exactly when something happens from raw fMRI data. Basically, to break down the raw data, you have to use statistics like the ones the authors keep referencing in order to find significant changes in each individual voxel, and therefore fMRI’s are good for “generating these correlations, | To explain voxels better, I found another article that explains them in relation to fMRI. Basically, fMRI’s represent brain activity by showing changes in blood oxygen level, but do not show detail at the level of the cell. But, the fMRI image is actually made of voxels (like an image is made up of pixels on TV)_consciousness. THis is because fMRI’s are too slow to caption every change in the brain, because neurons fire 100 times a second and you need at least one second to take a picture, so you can’t tell exactly when something happens from raw fMRI data. Basically, to break down the raw data, you have to use statistics like the ones the authors keep referencing in order to find significant changes in each individual voxel, and therefore fMRI’s are good for “generating these correlations, | ||
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| ==== Q: What are the statistical patterns they were looking for? ==== | ==== Q: What are the statistical patterns they were looking for? ==== | ||
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| Activation in the fMRI in a way that they would be able to predict the outcome based off of what is activated. | Activation in the fMRI in a way that they would be able to predict the outcome based off of what is activated. | ||
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| ==== Q: What are the benefits for using fMRI for this specific study? ==== | ==== Q: What are the benefits for using fMRI for this specific study? ==== | ||
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| As with many experiments, | As with many experiments, | ||
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| ===== Decisions and free will ===== | ===== Decisions and free will ===== | ||
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| ==== Q: Are there different processes or mental structures for split-second decision-making versus longer, more elaborate decision-making? | ==== Q: Are there different processes or mental structures for split-second decision-making versus longer, more elaborate decision-making? | ||
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| One study “found that under low time pressure, participants correctly weighted and integrated all available cues to arrive at near-optimal decisions. With increasingly demanding, sub-second time pressures, however, participants systematically discounted a subset of the cue information by dropping the least informative cue(s) from their decision making process. Thus, the human cognitive apparatus copes with uncertainty and severe time pressure by adopting a “Drop-the-Worst” cue decision making strategy that minimizes cognitive time and effort investment while preserving the consideration of the most diagnostic cue information, | One study “found that under low time pressure, participants correctly weighted and integrated all available cues to arrive at near-optimal decisions. With increasingly demanding, sub-second time pressures, however, participants systematically discounted a subset of the cue information by dropping the least informative cue(s) from their decision making process. Thus, the human cognitive apparatus copes with uncertainty and severe time pressure by adopting a “Drop-the-Worst” cue decision making strategy that minimizes cognitive time and effort investment while preserving the consideration of the most diagnostic cue information, | ||
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| ==== Q: Can we really “change” the decision that our brain wants to make? ==== | ==== Q: Can we really “change” the decision that our brain wants to make? ==== | ||
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| “Contrary to what most of us would like to believe, decision-making may be a process handled to a large extent by unconscious mental activity. A team of scientists has unraveled how the brain actually unconsciously prepares our decisions. "Many processes in the brain occur automatically and without involvement of our consciousness. This prevents our mind from being overloaded by simple routine tasks. But when it comes to decisions we tend to assume they are made by our conscious mind.” The phrase “to a large extent” implies that though a substantial part of decision-making is handled by our subconscious, | “Contrary to what most of us would like to believe, decision-making may be a process handled to a large extent by unconscious mental activity. A team of scientists has unraveled how the brain actually unconsciously prepares our decisions. "Many processes in the brain occur automatically and without involvement of our consciousness. This prevents our mind from being overloaded by simple routine tasks. But when it comes to decisions we tend to assume they are made by our conscious mind.” The phrase “to a large extent” implies that though a substantial part of decision-making is handled by our subconscious, | ||
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| ==== Q: Is there such a thing as free will? (if unconscious determines free will) ==== | ==== Q: Is there such a thing as free will? (if unconscious determines free will) ==== | ||
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| The article referenced below is highly confusing, but it argues free will is nothing but an illusion. The authors state we are constantly and unconsciously taking in stimuli, and our minds are endlessly creating different options for us yet we pick the one that is most applicable to the situation we perceive at that very instance. Thus, while we feel we’ve made the decision all on our own, our brain did nothing but a super complex calculation to pick our action without our conscious input (De Ridder, Verplaetse & Vanneste, 2013). | The article referenced below is highly confusing, but it argues free will is nothing but an illusion. The authors state we are constantly and unconsciously taking in stimuli, and our minds are endlessly creating different options for us yet we pick the one that is most applicable to the situation we perceive at that very instance. Thus, while we feel we’ve made the decision all on our own, our brain did nothing but a super complex calculation to pick our action without our conscious input (De Ridder, Verplaetse & Vanneste, 2013). | ||
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| ==== Q: If the experience of freedom is said to be caused by our unconscious mental processes, would this be done by System 1 or System 2? ==== | ==== Q: If the experience of freedom is said to be caused by our unconscious mental processes, would this be done by System 1 or System 2? ==== | ||
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| The unconscious mental processes behind the feeling of freedom is system 1 doing its thing. However, the physical experience of freedom can be system 1 or system 2 (unconscious or conscious) depending on the situation and environment. I like to imagine hiking and reaching the peak as an example of feeling freedom consciously. Living our daily lives in the United States of America would be a good example of the system 1 unconscious feeling of freedom. | The unconscious mental processes behind the feeling of freedom is system 1 doing its thing. However, the physical experience of freedom can be system 1 or system 2 (unconscious or conscious) depending on the situation and environment. I like to imagine hiking and reaching the peak as an example of feeling freedom consciously. Living our daily lives in the United States of America would be a good example of the system 1 unconscious feeling of freedom. | ||
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| ==== Q: Could the unconscious processes be a result of free decisions that you consciously made in the past? ==== | ==== Q: Could the unconscious processes be a result of free decisions that you consciously made in the past? ==== | ||
| There is little research to give insight into what exactly influences the unconscious process of decision making however I will review what we know about what influences our conscious decision making process. Stress is one factor that can impact our decision making and possibly even our surroundings. One study looked at the effects of acute and chronic stress on foraging-like decisions about whether to stay with a current option or search the environment for a potentially better one. It was found that both types of stress led subjects to overexploit current options relative to more optimal choices. These findings suggest that “stress biases judgments of environmental quality” (Lenow et al., 2017). Your social environment also plays a role in decision making. A study was done that looked at social influence on people' | There is little research to give insight into what exactly influences the unconscious process of decision making however I will review what we know about what influences our conscious decision making process. Stress is one factor that can impact our decision making and possibly even our surroundings. One study looked at the effects of acute and chronic stress on foraging-like decisions about whether to stay with a current option or search the environment for a potentially better one. It was found that both types of stress led subjects to overexploit current options relative to more optimal choices. These findings suggest that “stress biases judgments of environmental quality” (Lenow et al., 2017). Your social environment also plays a role in decision making. A study was done that looked at social influence on people' | ||
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| ==== Q: How is this unconscious flow of information preceding conscious motor decision similar or different in athletes who must make quick and effective decisions during competition? | ==== Q: How is this unconscious flow of information preceding conscious motor decision similar or different in athletes who must make quick and effective decisions during competition? | ||
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| ====== Bibliography ====== | ====== Bibliography ====== | ||
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| Alexander, P., Schlegel, A., Sinnott-Armstrong, | Alexander, P., Schlegel, A., Sinnott-Armstrong, | ||
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teaching/cndm/cndm_topic_consciousness.1566062813.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/08/17 13:26 by anthony