Researchers have lengthy studied how consciousness types within the mind. Professor Ekrem Dere proposes defining acutely aware phases by way of behavioral observations and studying curves, utilizing sudden insights to establish acutely aware processing instances. Consciousness varies by process, and learning these phases can reveal mind mechanisms by way of imaging.
For generations, researchers have contemplated the origins and mechanisms of consciousness within the mind. Professor Ekrem Dere from Ruhr College Bochum in Germany suggests a novel method to learning acutely aware cognitive info processing. He proposes defining the phases of acutely aware cognitive processes by way of behavioral observations and studying curves.
“Studying is commonly not a gradual course of, however takes place in leaps and bounds; you would say that people and animals expertise sudden epiphanies from time to time,” he says. “It’s probably that these experiences are preceded by acutely aware processes.” Dere outlines his new method, which could apply to each people and animals, in a paper printed within the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Completely different ranges of consciousness
Consciousness shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing course of. “There are completely different ranges of consciousness, relying for instance on whether or not we’re sleeping or writing an e-mail,” says Ekrem Dere from the Psychological Well being Analysis and Therapy Heart in Bochum, who can be a member of the Sorbonne Université in Paris. “On the higher finish of this gradation, so to talk, we discover acutely aware cognitive info processing that’s required to cope with a sophisticated downside.”
Animals can study quite a bit. Identical to people, they often expertise a eureka second. This may very well be priceless for analysis into consciousness. Credit score: Katja Marquard
In an effort to examine the neurobiological correlates of those processes utilizing scientific strategies, a human or animal have to be offered with an experimental process that may solely be solved with acutely aware cognitive info processing – it’s essential that there isn’t a preconceived resolution. “Within the lengthy historical past of cognitive behavioral psychology, an ideal many such duties have been developed,” says Dere. “Nonetheless, the principle problem is {that a} human or animal could not use acutely aware cognitive info processing all through the complete processing time.”
Eureka second is the time stamp
The researcher subsequently suggests to make use of studying curves to slender down the phases of acutely aware info processing with regard to their timing. In these curves, efficiency in a selected process is plotted over time. “Studying efficiency typically doesn’t enhance constantly, however reasonably by leaps or in levels,” explains Dere. This so-called discontinuous studying after perception can function a time stamp. “Acutely aware cognitive info processing will need to have taken place at this level and presumably additionally within the seconds main as much as it,” says the psychologist. “Armed with this data, we are able to use imaging or electrophysiological strategies to look at the mind throughout acutely aware cognitive info processing by evaluating the time durations instantly earlier than the sudden enhance in studying with earlier or later cut-off dates throughout the processing of the duty.” This might allow researchers to search out out which mechanisms the mind used by which area for acutely aware info processing.
Reference: “Insights into acutely aware cognitive info processing” by Ekrem Dere, 15 July 2024, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1443161