consciousness Flashcards
What is the role of consciousness?
Some say it has none, just a side effect of having so much brain power
Understanding the future and your place in it (time travel)
Gazzaniga presents the left hemisphere interpreter… what’s that about?
left hemisphere is the speech area, so this is the only output we can measure
in a split brain experiment, two words are flashed, one on each side, so each hemisphere gets different info, how does this support the left hemisphere interpreter
the left side input will be spoken, but when the right hemisphere (left hand) is told to grab the object that the stimulus word indicated, it will be what the hand knows (not what the LHI said)
what is Capgras syndrome
the ability to recognize familiar faces, but there is no emotional response to the recognition, so the LHI makes up a narrative that makes sense…and calls them impostors.
what evidence is there against the existence of free will
Libet’s experiment with readiness potential preceding conscious awareness
Why do we “feel” in control of our body/mind
the Left Hand Interpreter… but we don’t really know what it’s like to not have all the information because the LHI is always making shit up if we don’t have all the details
Why is it useful to believe we have free will?
students who do, do better in school, and are less likely to cheat. Reading about a lack of free will reduces one’s readiness potential.
