Closing in on seat of consciousness in the human brain
“the team investigated whether this brainstem-cortex network was functioning in another subset of patients with disorders of consciousness, including coma. Using a special type of MRI scan, the scientists found that their newly identified “consciousness network” was disrupted in patients with impaired consciousness. The findings – bolstered by data from rodent studies – suggest the network between the brainstem and these two cortical regions plays a role maintaining human consciousness.”
http://www.bidmc.org/News/PRLandingPage/2016/November/Fox-Consciousness.aspx
Yes. But, I think it is misleading to talk abut a “seat of consciousness.” That’s just journalistic marketing. Consciousness arises from a dynamic set of neural processes that is pretty much a whole brain affair. But for sure, parts of the limbic system and brainstem are heavily and necessarily involved, not just the modern human “higher” corticothalamic network, as many might like to think. Part of the reason is just historical. As a weak metaphor, that fancy new computerized furnace / refrigerated air system you just installed at home is not going to work at all without the electrical system… Read more »
I like the furnace metaphor. If self-aware consciousness is an epiphenomenon of the entire evolved, embodied neural system, perhaps an AI would require equivalent circumstances for emergence of self-aware consciousness to become possible.