The Psychobiology of Consciousness

Produktbeschreibung

CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE BRAIN SELF-REGULATION PARADOX The relationship of consciousness to biology has intrigued mankind thoroughout recorded history. However, little progress has been made not only in understanding these issues but also in raising fundamental questions central to the problem. As Davidson and Davidson note in their introduction, William James suggested, almost a century ago in his Principles of Psychology, that the brain was the organ of mind and be havior. James went so far as to suggest that the remainder of the Principles was but a "footnote" to this central thesis. This volume brings together diverse biobehavioral scientists who are addressing the various aspects of the mindlbrainlbodylbehavior issue. Although some of the authors have previously published together in other volumes, by and large the particular combination of authors and topics selected by the editors makes this volume unique and timely. Unlike the Consciousness and Self-Regulation series (Schwartz & Shapiro, 1976, 1978), also published by Plenum, this volume is devoted entirely to a psychobiological approach to consciousness. Although readers will differ in their interest in specific chapters, the well-rounded investigator who is concerned with the psychobiology of consciousness will want to become intimately acquainted with all the views presented in this volume. As noted by the individual contributors, the topic of this volume stimulates fundamental questions which, on the surface, may appear trivial, yet, on further reflection, turn out to have deep significance. 

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction: The Scientific Study of Human Consciousness in Psychobiological
Perspective.- References.- 2 Consciousness and Information Processing: A
Biocognitive Perspective.- 1. Introduction.- 2. A Brief Historical Overview.- 3.
Consciousness, Unconsciousness, and Biocognitive Structures.- 4. Influences on
Biocognitive Structures and Styles of Information Processing.- 5. On Making the
Unconscious Conscious.- References.- 3 Mind, Brain, and Consciousness: The
Organization of Competence and Conduct.- 1. Consciousness and Information
Processing.- 2. Consciousness and Self-Consciousness.- 3. Consciousness and
Feelings.- 4. Consciousness and Information Measurement.- 5. Consciousness and
Competency.- 6. Consciousness and Perception.- 7. Consciousness and Mind.-
References.- 4 Stress-Induced Behavior: Chemotherapy without Drugs.- 1.
Stress-Induced Behavior.- 2. Stereotypy as a Consequence of Stress in Animals
and Humans.- 3. Why Dopamine?.- 4. Summary.- References.- 5 Redundancy in the
Nervous System as Substrate for Consciousness: Relation to the Anatomy and
Chemistry of Remembering.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Localization of Memory
Consolidation Function.- 3. Redundancy of the Central Nervous System.- 4.
Redundancy as a Neurobiological Substrate of Consciousness.- 5. Biochemistry of
Memory.- 6. Conclusion.- References.- 6 Multipotentiality: A Statistical Theory
of Brain Function-Evidence and Implications.- References.- 7 Genetic Factors in
EEG, Sleep, and Evoked Potentials.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The
Electroencephalogram-Resting and Response Measures.- 3. Sleep.- 4. Evoked
Potentials.- 5. Anatomic Features and Electrophysiology.- 6. Electrophysiology,
Genetics, and Consciousness.- References.- 8 The Waking Stream of
Consciousness.- 1. William James: Characteristics ofConsciousness.- 2. The
Variety of Conscious Experience.- 3. A Basic Model.- 4. The Activities of Mind
and Body.- 5. The Stream of Consciousness and Brain Activity.- 6. Fantasy,
Emotion, and Visual Imagination.- References.- 9 The Emergence of Emotions and
the Development of Consciousness in Infancy.- 1. Biological Processes, Emotions,
and Consciousness.- 2. The Emergence of Emotions and Changes in Consciousness.-
3. Summary.- References.- 10 A Systems Approach to Consciousness.- 1.
Introduction.- 2. Some Generalities about the Systems Approach.- 3. A Particular
System Model.- 4. Consciousness.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- 11 A Systems
Approach to Altered States of Consciousness.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Constructed
Nature of Ordinary Consciousness.- 3. States of Consciousness.- 4. Mapping
Experience.- 5. Discrete States of Consciousness.- 6. Individual Differences.-
7. Major Subsystems of Consciousness.- 8. Stabilization of Discrete States.- 9.
Induction of a Discrete Altered State.- 10. Methodological Consequences of the
Systems Approach.- References.- 12 The Psychobiology of Sexual Experience.- 1.
Introduction.- 2. Physiology, Sensations, and Concepts of Sexuality.- 3. Orgasm
as an Altered State of Consciousness (ASC).- 4. Sex Differences and the Role of
Hormones.- 5. Summary.- References.- 13 The Psychophysiological Model of
Meditation and Altered States of Consciousness: A Critical Review.- 1. The
Meditative ASC.- 2. EEG Changes during Meditation.- 3. Oculomotor Processes and
EEG.- 4. Meditation and Arousal.- 5. Specificity of the Meditative ASC.- 6. EEG,
Arousal, and Sleep.- 7. Meditation and Attention.- 8. Meditation and Trance.- 9.
Meditation and Brain-Wave Biofeedback.- 10. The Psychophysiological Principle.-
11. Meditation and the Psychophysiological Model.- References.- 14 Toward a
Psychobiology of Transcendence: God in the Brain.- 1. An Argument for Implicit
Knowledge in the Brain Sciences.- 2. The Pharmacological Bridge and the
Modulation of Arousal and Fear.- 3. The Pharmacological Bridge and the
Modulation of Rage.- 4. Neurobiological Transcendence: High-Dose Amphetamine,
Cocaine, and the Hallucinogens.- 5. Neurobiological Antagonism of Amphetamine,
Cocaine, the Hallucinogens, and Naturally Occurring Transient Hypomanic States
by Lithium's Effect on Serotonin Biosynthesis.- 6. Kindling of Temporal Lobe
Limbic Structures: Raphe and Hippocampal Pyramidal Cells as Double Gates to
Transcendence.- 7. Bipolar Affect Disorder, the Temporal Lobes, and Transcendent
Consciousness.- 8. Syndromes of Temporal Lobe Disinhibition.- 9. The Activated
Sleep Syndrome, the Drive-Arrest-Release Sequence in Biogenic Amine Neurons, and
the Psychopharmacology of the Bipolar Affect Disorders.- 10. Religious Ecstasy
and Conversion.- References.- 15 Prospects for the Scientific Observer of
Perceptual Consciousness.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Scientific Observer and the
Problem of Mind and Matter: A Phenomenological Argument.- 3. The Scientific
Observer and the Problem of Mind and Brain: An Abstract Argument.- 4.
Conclusion.- References.