Subjective Experience

Question 1

How do we analyse pain?

Answer 1

Top-down: 1. Double dissociation. X without Y then subsystem. Ingestion of sedatives. Broca’s aphasia. 2. Teleological - how subsystems fit together.

Bottom-up: 1. Neuron firings and ext. world. E.g., colour and shape. 2. Connection B&A firings. 3. Historical and evolutionary facts.

Question 2

How is pain divided into it’s three neurone subsystems?

Answer 2

Takes info from surface and translates it via C-fibres and A-fibres to second set of neurones locates in dorsal horn. Then pass through reticular formation onto thalamus where they’re projected onto frontal cortex.

Question 3

What’s the classic conception of pain?

Answer 3

1. Pain located in specific body part.
   Rep: not necessary - phantom pain.
2. Pain is subjective
   Rep: at tension with 1.

Question 4

What’s the main objection to classical conception of pain?

Answer 4

Double dissociation methodology - classic fails to recognise complexity of pain. E.g., identify with one of neural subsystems. Can separate pain processes - experience pain with loss of cortex. Alzheimer’s patients have non-specific pain.

Philosopher’s error.

Question 5

How does Hardcastle respond to double dissociation methodology?

Answer 5

Eliminate common-sense understanding of pain. Pain=complex.
Functionalism ignores impact of emotion, behaviourism looks pat first subsystem, subject ignores objectiveness of pain.

Rep: not v. parsimonious. Treat counter-examples as exceptions. V. rare and misunderstood.
Obj: placebos and athletes suppressing pain. + can keep pain sensations distinct.