High-conductance states and consciousness

[andrewcellini]

Are there any theories which directly relate these two, that this feature of neurons could be necessary for consciousness to emerge? I've read high conductance states are found in thalamocortical radiations and I vaguely remember thalamocortical radiations being implicated in consciousness in another theory (dynamic theory?).

Edited October 30, 2014 by andrewcellini

[Genecks]

Where did you read that?

[andrewcellini]

http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/High-conductance_state#Models_of_high-conductance_states

 

trying to find a paper on dynamic core hypothesis (not a theory my mistake) i can link for you to read in full and having a bit of trouble. one of the authors is giulio tononi.

 

edit: found one http://wiki.dxarts.washington.edu/sandbox/groups/general/wiki/6746a/attachments/2b0a6/Tononi-Edelman%20Science-1998-.pdf?sessionID=a4ebd3f43afa7fffb5c21749aed42be63973d1df

Edited October 31, 2014 by andrewcellini

[Genecks]

I'm sorry. I'm too busy at the moment to help you with this. There should still be at least one or two other neuroscientists around here. Otherwise, there are biologists and people with some psychology and philosophy background.

Edited October 31, 2014 by Genecks

[John Cuthber]

If memory serves the most conductive nerves are theses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_giant_axon

and, with the best will in the world, I don't think that squid are noted for their intellect.

 

(Though their octopus cousins are very bright)

[andrewcellini]

is there any other advantage to high conductivity besides faster propagation of action potential (in this case faster response of siphon to flee)?

[Genecks]

I think consciousness is still a phenomena that we've yet to understand, just as much as vision.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Genecks

[andrewcellini]

I think consciousness is still a phenomena that we've yet to understand, just as much as vision.

what would good places to start learning about what we do know?

[Xalatan]

Presumably by high conductance you are referring to the process of myelination, in which case yes you could argue compared to patients with MS for example, normal myelination improves cognition and perhaps consciousness.

 

But my understanding of consciousness - defined as wakefulness, having a normal mental state, and ability to follow instructions, is more of a function of structural and functional integrity to certain sets of neurons in the brainstem - for example the reticular formation. If you were to reduce conductance of the reticular formation neurons you may reduce consciousness, but almost all pathologies to the brain stem would lead to the same outcome of loss of consciousness, it's not solely limited to a problem with neuronal conductance.

 

I hope this helps!

[andrewcellini]

Presumably by high conductance you are referring to the process of myelination

in post 3 i have a link to an encyclopedia entry on what i am talking about.

[Genecks]

I think there is a lot more to vision and consciousness than we understand. Philosophers of science are on the right track, but I sometimes wonder if the scientific method that we use is limited ("measurement problem" issue). However, there is still the whole mathematical basis of vision, such as related to Fourier transformations, which makes me a strong believer in the mathematical universe hypothesis. With that said, I think "consciousness" can be related to a mathematical construct. I covered something like this on philosophyforums.com before it was hacked and wiped.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Genecks

[StringJunky]

The problem with emergent effects, like consciousness, is there's no real way to deduce the fundamental components that comprise it. I think I saw somewhere that emergence is equivalent to 2+2=5.