Antonio Damasio is a neuroscientist who has studied and written about how the brain operates for the last thirty years. His work has generated appraisal for bringing together the scientific and humanist and delves into the neurobiological foundations of what is known as the mind and self. In the book Self Comes to Mind, Antonio Damasio presents the idea, that consciousness is not separate from the body and introduces consciousness from an evolutionary perspective; presenting evidence of what we think is consciousness can actually be narrowed down to a set of biological processes.
Damasio explains that the purpose of Self Comes to Mind, is because the previous scientific research he has undertaken is no longer a sufficient explanation of consciousness, …show more content…
The book delves in to the past, reflecting on the evolution of consciousness – a phenomena that has deliberately developed as a basic functioning and not a primitive need.
Main 475
History of consciousness
Damasio sets the scene of the book by relating to the history and philosophical basics of consciousness as the underlying framework explaining consciousness. Proclaiming the history of consciousness cannot be told in the most of conventional ways, however it emerged due to “biological value” and that consciousness revealed biological value.
Biological basis of consciousness
Biological processes, such as homeostasis are constantly running in the background, when the body is experiencing an unpleasant temperature, this emerges in the conscious mind, and enables humans to change to an optimised state of being. For example, the body will begin to shiver, the mind notices this and the human can then act accordingly by proceeding to add more layers of clothing. Or opposing, when the body is dehydrated or overheated, signals are sent to the brain and acknowledged as “thirst” prompting to find …show more content…
This can be interpreted, that both types of consciousness may be in conflict with each other, and suggesting the frontal areas sole purpose is not for conscious perception but for intentionally draw attention on the sensory experience and allow it to be acknowledged (Block, 2010).
Sleep studies (Damasio, 2010) Includes sleep as a natural setting that enables the study of consciousness, and these studies were early contributors of the understanding of consciousness. The distinctive patterns of electrical activity produced by the brain associate with the specific stages in the sleep cycle. (Damasio, 2010) Argues, patients in a vegetative state are able to answer questions, however, this is the production of unconscious processes and no due to consciousness. (Damasio, 2010) Adds an element of confusion, entertaining the idea that animals have the ability to be conscious. Damasio could introduce further explanations as to why he states non-human animals have the ability of consciousness, and human dreamers, and those patients that are in a vegetative state able to provide unconscious answers are not defined with a conscious
Damasio explains that the purpose of Self Comes to Mind, is because the previous scientific research he has undertaken is no longer a sufficient explanation of consciousness, …show more content…
The book delves in to the past, reflecting on the evolution of consciousness – a phenomena that has deliberately developed as a basic functioning and not a primitive need.
Main 475
History of consciousness
Damasio sets the scene of the book by relating to the history and philosophical basics of consciousness as the underlying framework explaining consciousness. Proclaiming the history of consciousness cannot be told in the most of conventional ways, however it emerged due to “biological value” and that consciousness revealed biological value.
Biological basis of consciousness
Biological processes, such as homeostasis are constantly running in the background, when the body is experiencing an unpleasant temperature, this emerges in the conscious mind, and enables humans to change to an optimised state of being. For example, the body will begin to shiver, the mind notices this and the human can then act accordingly by proceeding to add more layers of clothing. Or opposing, when the body is dehydrated or overheated, signals are sent to the brain and acknowledged as “thirst” prompting to find …show more content…
This can be interpreted, that both types of consciousness may be in conflict with each other, and suggesting the frontal areas sole purpose is not for conscious perception but for intentionally draw attention on the sensory experience and allow it to be acknowledged (Block, 2010).
Sleep studies (Damasio, 2010) Includes sleep as a natural setting that enables the study of consciousness, and these studies were early contributors of the understanding of consciousness. The distinctive patterns of electrical activity produced by the brain associate with the specific stages in the sleep cycle. (Damasio, 2010) Argues, patients in a vegetative state are able to answer questions, however, this is the production of unconscious processes and no due to consciousness. (Damasio, 2010) Adds an element of confusion, entertaining the idea that animals have the ability to be conscious. Damasio could introduce further explanations as to why he states non-human animals have the ability of consciousness, and human dreamers, and those patients that are in a vegetative state able to provide unconscious answers are not defined with a conscious