Neurophysiology of Consciousness
Selected Papers of Benjamin Libet
Published in November 1993
Book
432 pages
978-3-7643-3538-0 (ISBN)
Description
Psychologists and philosophers have grappled unsuccessfully through the ages with the ultimal mysteries of the mind. How is consciousness generated by the brain? What unique cerebral processes accoun for mental events among the myriad of brain activities? How does the brain generate and process mental activity - thought, learning, and memory-when this is unconscious, and how does this differ for conscious mental events? Collected here for the first time and annotated by the author are the key publications of Dr. Benjamin Libet, whose work during thirty years of exploring the human brain has helped estabush a new basis for studying subjective mental phenomena-a basis for clarifying the mysteries of mind / brain relationships with hard experimental investigations. The papers herein present the results of experiments with awake human patients undergoing therapeutic surgical procedures. Intracranial electrodes were placed in the brains of these petients to monitor electrophysiological concomitants and to alter mental activity. The dramatic results reported in these classic papers establish a new field of study and a new scientific basis for understanding the workings of the human mind.
This fascinating collection win be invaluable to psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, as well as those interested in the philosophy of consciousness.
This fascinating collection win be invaluable to psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, as well as those interested in the philosophy of consciousness.
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Content
Preface Bibliography: Papers Reprinted in this Volume Bibliography: Additional Selected Papers Prologue: Introduction and Overview 1 Production of 'nreshold Levels of Conscious Sensation by Electrical Stimulation of Human Somatosensory Cortex (1964) Cortical Activation in Conscious and Unconscious Experience (1965) Brain Stimulation and the Threshold of Conscious Experience (1966) Responses of Human Somatosensory Cortex to Stimuli below Threshold for Conscious Sensation (1967) 5 Electrical Stimulation of Cortex in Human Subjects, and Conscious Sensory Aspects (1973) 6 Cortical Representation of Evoked Potentials Relative to Conscious Sensory Responses, and of Somatosensory Qualities - in Man (1975) 7 Cortical and Thalamic Activation in Conscious Sensory Experience (1972) 8 Neuronal vs. Subjective Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience (1978) Subjective Referral of the Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience: A Functional Role for the Somatosensory Specific Projection System in Man (1979) 10 Retroactive Enhancement of a Sldn Sensation by a Delayed Cortical Stimulus in Man: Evidence for Delay of a Conscious Sensory Experience (1992a) 11 The Experimental Evidence for Subjective Referral of a Sensory Experience Backwards in Time: Reply to P. S. Churchland (1981) 12 Brain Stimulation in the Study of Neuronal Functions for Conscious Sensory Experiences (1982a) 13 Readiness-Potentials Preceding Unrestricted "Spontaneous" vs. Pre-Planned Voluntary Acts (1982b) 14 Preparation- or Intention-to-Act, in Relation to Pre-Event Pot 1.1als R,ecorded at the Vertex (1983a) 15 Time of Conscious Intenfion to Act in Relation to Onset of C,, i (.@bral Activity (Readiness-Potential): The Unconscious Initiation of a Freely ' @@@)luntary Act (1983b) 16 Unconscious Cerebral Initiative and the Role of Conscious W @ I I in Voluntary Action (1985) 17 Are the Mental Experiences of Will and Self-Control Significant for the Performance of a Voluntary Act? Response to Commentaries by L. Deecke and by R. E. Hoffman and R. E. Kravitz (1987a) 18 Consciousness: Conscious, Subjective Experience (1987b) 19 The Timing of a Subjective Experience. Response to a Commentary by D. Salter (1989a) 20 Conscious Subjective Experience vs. Unconscious Mental Functions: A Theory of the Cerebral Processes Involved (1989b) 21 Control of the Transition from Sensory Detection to Sensory Awareness in Man by the Duration of a Tlalamic Stimulus: The Cerebral "Time-On" Factor (1991) 22 The Neural Time-Factor in Perception, Volition and Free Will (1992b). Epilogue, Part 1: Some Implications of "Time-On" Theory. Epilogue, Part 11: A Testable Field Theory of Conscious Mind.