Brain and Consciousness

1

Brain and Consciousness

Dr. Keith WallaceChair, Physiology and Health

Dr. Fred TravisChair, Maharishi Vedic Science

Director, Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition Center

Sun Monday Tuesday Wed Thursday Friday Sat

Sept 11: Paradigms 13: Brain Develop-ment

Sept Mongolia Conference

Sept 27: Sleeping

28: TM and TC

Oct 2: Science and Pseudoscience

4: Other Meditations

Oct 9: Cosmic Consciousness

Timeline: 7:45 – 9:00

Drfredtravis.com for copy of lecture power points

What is the relation of the brain and experience?

4

Brain and Consciousness

ParadigmsParadigms

WholenessWholeness Paradigms provide the framework Paradigms provide the framework to judge individual goals and to judge individual goals and actions in relation to the larger actions in relation to the larger world view. Paradigms are world view. Paradigms are structured by collective experience. structured by collective experience. The experience of Transcendental The experience of Transcendental Consciousness is required to Consciousness is required to change the current materialistic change the current materialistic paradigm to a Consciousness-based paradigm to a Consciousness-based paradigm.paradigm.

Paradigms (Science)Paradigms (Science)

• Paradigms are the foundation for conducting science. – Body of accepted theory– Successful applications– Model experiments.

• Paradigms guide meaning-making.• Latin: “paradigma” (1) pattern, (2)

to show side by side.

Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. 1974

Patterns of values and Patterns of values and standards of conduct are part standards of conduct are part

of cultures and societies. of cultures and societies.

They are shaped by They are shaped by experience and they affect experience and they affect

our thinking without us being our thinking without us being aware of it.aware of it.

Low Road and High Road

Emotional Centers

High Road

Low Road

CEO

Seeing another person in pain Seeing another person in pain (Soccer fans and Red Sox versus Yankee Fans)(Soccer fans and Red Sox versus Yankee Fans)

• If person is part of your team (In-If person is part of your team (In-group)group)– Helping behavior and greater empathy Helping behavior and greater empathy

(Anterior Insula)(Anterior Insula)

• If person is part of other team (Out-If person is part of other team (Out-group)group)– Pleasure circuit (Nucleus Accumbens)Pleasure circuit (Nucleus Accumbens)

Hein et al, in press, Neuron

……when Democrat says a when Democrat says a rational pointrational point,

Republicans and DemocratsRepublicans and Democrats

Republican

DemocratDemocrat

Republican

CEOLimbic System

(emotions)

……when Republican says when Republican says a rational point, a rational point,

Racial ProfilingRacial Profiling

• Policemen will most often Policemen will most often see a youth of color pull a see a youth of color pull a gun from their coat; and a gun from their coat; and a white youth pull an ipod from white youth pull an ipod from their coat.their coat.

Paradigm BlindnessParadigm Blindness

• We We ignoreignore facts that contradict facts that contradict our paradigm.our paradigm.

• We accept a We accept a partpart of the fact that of the fact that fits our paradigm.fits our paradigm.

• We We acceptaccept without critical without critical review facts that fit your review facts that fit your paradigm.paradigm.

Travis and Durchholz, (2000) Can an Electronic Device Improve Mood and Well-Being, and Decrease Anxiety? International Journal of

Neuroscience, 103:91-99.

Travis and Durchholz, 2000

John John SearleSearle

1.1. Consciousness is real and irreducible. Consciousness is real and irreducible.

2.2. All conscious states are caused by neuronal processes in the brain.All conscious states are caused by neuronal processes in the brain.

3.3. Consciousness is a feature, state or process going on in the brain.Consciousness is a feature, state or process going on in the brain.

4.4. Conscious states function causally.Conscious states function causally.

5.5. Consciousness is a biological phenomenon.Consciousness is a biological phenomenon.

MVS Model of Brain and MVS Model of Brain and Consciousness: Gita II 17Consciousness: Gita II 17

It may be made clear here that the omnipresent Being and the spirit within man are not two different entities. They are found to be different because of the different individual nervous systems. As the same sun appears as different when shining on different media, such as water and oil, so the same omnipresent Being, shining through different nervous systems, appears as different and forms the spirit, the subjective aspect of man's personality.

ExerciseExercise

• Compare the Sun/ reflector/ Compare the Sun/ reflector/ reflection model of Maharishi reflection model of Maharishi Vedic Science with John Vedic Science with John Searle’s model.Searle’s model.

Main PointMain PointParadigms determine meaning making; Paradigms determine meaning making; determine values; determine what determine values; determine what actions may be considered right or actions may be considered right or wrong. wrong. Maharishi Vedic Science is a Maharishi Vedic Science is a new paradigm that locates within the new paradigm that locates within the simplest form of human awareness, simplest form of human awareness, pure consciousness, the administering pure consciousness, the administering intelligence of each individual and all intelligence of each individual and all of Nature.of Nature.