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Activation Synthesis

Science Comment

One of the most interesting areas of psychology is dreams. While there are many theories about the purpose of dreams, one of the most fascinating (and strongest philosophical implications) is the activation synthesis theory.

The theory basically states that our dreams are products of random neural activity during REM sleep that is converted into plausible stories usually based on the day’s events.

Our brains are constantly reconstructing and synthesizing things from external stimuli to create the complete effect we are familiar with. For example, our brain fills in the blind spot) that results from the rod and cone-free part of the retina where the optic nerve connects to the back of the eye.

What is interesting about the activation synthesis theory of dreams is that entire situations are synthesized with very little preliminary information. Other forms of reconstruction rely heavily on simultaneously-perceived stimuli to “fill in the gaps” whereas these dreams would be only loosely based on recent events with the remainder of the in-dream sensations being synthesized by the brain.

The prospect that complex and “realistic” sensations (such as in lucid dreams) could be fabrications of our brains is both amazing and alarming. If our dreams can be completely artificial, what else is simply our brain’s interpretation of random activity?

Split-brain

Science Isn't it Amazing [17]

The very physical manner in which certain regions of the brain dominate certain functions is completely new to me. One especially interesting example from my enlightening Introductory Psychology course is about the “split-brain” theory.

A split-brain results from the severing of the corpus callosum – a connection between the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex – in response to severe seizures or injury.

Humans vs. "Animals"

Science Why not? [31]

I was having a little discussion recently with Andrew Hamann about choosing a Charity of the Month for February. He had previously suggested The Humane Society but I had refrained from selecting it because I felt that humans are more important than animals. I absolutely love animals of all kind and understand how many of them are in danger of extinction, but I can’t help but feel that helping another human is more important (a higher good, if you will) than helping an animal. The question becomes: is a human life more important than an “animal” one?

The Self

Science Comment [3]

A good indicator of how busy I’ve been lately is that I have fallen a few issues behind on my Scientific American magazine subscription. While frantically trying to catch up before the arrival of the December issue, I came across a very interesting article called The Neurobiology of the Self.

What was especially interesting about this article was that separated “The Self” from basic consciousness, suggesting that the connection of an event to the self may occur independently. For example, when our brain gives a command for a particular motion, two signals are sent. One controls the actual movement by signaling the proper area of the brain, and the other goes to the region of the brain that monitors the movement and would apply the ensuing sensations to the Self.

Consciousness

Science Describe consciousness [6]

A recent discussion with philosophy student and fellow 9rules member Benedict Eastaugh sparked the topic of consciousness and its peculiar characteristics. The area of consciousness that I will explore in this article concerns its very existence and its possible connection with biology.

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