Ebook: Neurophysiology of Consciousness

and made insignificant in practice, by selecting for study simple kinds of ex­ periences which are devoid of emotional content and which can be tested for reliability. A simple somatosensory ''raw feel" fulfills these characteristics (see papers nos. 2,5). In any case, if we fail to find ways to use introspective reports in convincingly acceptable studies we would give up the ability to investigate the relation between conscious experience and neural activity, something warned against by William James (Krech, 1969). Another factor in the dearth of direct experimental studies is, of course, the comparative inaccessibility of the human brain for such purposes. Meaningful investigations of the issue in question requires simultaneous study of brain events and introspective reports of experiences in an awake, cooperative human subject. Analysis by neuropsychologists of pathological lesions in the brain and the related disturbances of conscious functions have contributed much to mapping the pos­ sible representations of these functions. The non-invasive recording of electrical activity with electrodes on the scalp, starting from Berger's initial EEG record­ ings in 1929, has contributed much to the problems of states of consciousness and to various cognitive features associated with sensory inputs, but not as much to the specific issue of conscious experience.

---

---

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvii
Production of Threshold Levels of Conscious Sensation by Electrical Stimulation of Human Somatosensory Cortex....Pages 1-34
Cortical Activation in Conscious and Unconscious Experience....Pages 35-45
Brain Stimulation and the Threshold of Conscious Experience....Pages 47-63
Responses of Human Somatosensory Cortex to Stimuli below Threshold for Conscious Sensation....Pages 64-67
Electrical Stimulation of Cortex in Human Subjects and Conscious Sensory Aspects....Pages 68-116
Cortical Representation of Evoked Potentials Relative to Conscious Sensory Responses, and of Somatosensory Qualities — in Man....Pages 118-135
Cortical and thalamic activation in conscious sensory experience....Pages 136-147
Neuronal vs. Subjective Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience....Pages 149-162
Subjective Referral of the Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience ....Pages 164-195
Retroactive Enhancement of a Skin Sensation by a Delayed Cortical Stimulus in Man: Evidence for Delay of a Conscious Sensory Experience....Pages 196-204
The Experimental Evidence for Subjective Referral of a Sensory Experience Backwards in Time: Reply to P. S. Churchland....Pages 205-220
Brain Stimulation in the Study of Neuronal Functions for Conscious Sensory Experiences....Pages 221-228
Readiness-Potentials Preceding Unrestricted’ spontaneous’ vs. Pre-Planned Voluntary Acts....Pages 229-242
Preparation- or Intention-To-Act, in Relation to Pre-Event Potentials Recorded at the Vertex....Pages 243-248
Time of Conscious Intention to Act in Relation to Onset of Cerebral Activity (Readiness-Potential)....Pages 249-268
Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action....Pages 269-306
Are the Mental Experiences of Will and Self-Control Significant for the Performance of a Voluntary Act?....Pages 307-313
Consciousness: Conscious, Subjective Experience....Pages 314-318
The Timing of a Subjective Experience....Pages 319-323
Conscious Subjective Experience vs.Unconscious Mental Functions: A Theory of the Cerebral Processes Involved....Pages 325-339
Control of the Transition from Sensory Detection to Sensory Awareness in Man by the Duration of a Thalamic Stimulus....Pages 340-366
The Neural Time — Factor in Perception, Volition and Free Will....Pages 367-384
Back Matter....Pages 403-404

---

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvii
Production of Threshold Levels of Conscious Sensation by Electrical Stimulation of Human Somatosensory Cortex....Pages 1-34
Cortical Activation in Conscious and Unconscious Experience....Pages 35-45
Brain Stimulation and the Threshold of Conscious Experience....Pages 47-63
Responses of Human Somatosensory Cortex to Stimuli below Threshold for Conscious Sensation....Pages 64-67
Electrical Stimulation of Cortex in Human Subjects and Conscious Sensory Aspects....Pages 68-116
Cortical Representation of Evoked Potentials Relative to Conscious Sensory Responses, and of Somatosensory Qualities — in Man....Pages 118-135
Cortical and thalamic activation in conscious sensory experience....Pages 136-147
Neuronal vs. Subjective Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience....Pages 149-162
Subjective Referral of the Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience ....Pages 164-195
Retroactive Enhancement of a Skin Sensation by a Delayed Cortical Stimulus in Man: Evidence for Delay of a Conscious Sensory Experience....Pages 196-204
The Experimental Evidence for Subjective Referral of a Sensory Experience Backwards in Time: Reply to P. S. Churchland....Pages 205-220
Brain Stimulation in the Study of Neuronal Functions for Conscious Sensory Experiences....Pages 221-228
Readiness-Potentials Preceding Unrestricted’ spontaneous’ vs. Pre-Planned Voluntary Acts....Pages 229-242
Preparation- or Intention-To-Act, in Relation to Pre-Event Potentials Recorded at the Vertex....Pages 243-248
Time of Conscious Intention to Act in Relation to Onset of Cerebral Activity (Readiness-Potential)....Pages 249-268
Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action....Pages 269-306
Are the Mental Experiences of Will and Self-Control Significant for the Performance of a Voluntary Act?....Pages 307-313
Consciousness: Conscious, Subjective Experience....Pages 314-318
The Timing of a Subjective Experience....Pages 319-323
Conscious Subjective Experience vs.Unconscious Mental Functions: A Theory of the Cerebral Processes Involved....Pages 325-339
Control of the Transition from Sensory Detection to Sensory Awareness in Man by the Duration of a Thalamic Stimulus....Pages 340-366
The Neural Time — Factor in Perception, Volition and Free Will....Pages 367-384
Back Matter....Pages 403-404
....