The Central Neural Foundations of Awareness and Self-Awareness(WHAT IS LIFE? THE NEXT 100 YEARS OF YUKAWA'S DREAM)

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In the past, neuroscientists have done very well to concentrate on explaining the mechanisms for very specific, simple behaviors. For example, our laboratory's work with molecular and neural mechanisms of a simple sex behavior proved for the first time that specific biochemical reactions in specific parts of the brain govern a specific behavior [D. W. Pfaff, Drive: Neurobiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Sexual Motivation (The MIT Press, Cambridge, 1999)]. Now, advances in our field coupled with new techniques permit us to attack the problems of explaining global changes of state in the central nervous system. For example, how does a simple sex behavior depend on sexual arousal, and in turn, how does that sexual arousal depend on other forms of CNS arousal? Of surpassing interest is the explanation of the primary causes of brain arousal [D. W. Pfaff, Brain Arousal and Information Theory: Neural and Genetic Mechanisms (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2006)]. We have hypothesized that the earliest and most elementary event in waking up the brain is the activation of certain primitive nerve cells in the hindbrain reticular formation. Hypothesizing a 'generalized arousal' force emanating from these cells puts forth an idea roughly analogous to the hypothesis of a 'big bang' in astrophysics, or to our ideas about the magma of the earth in geophysics. Following the activation of this primitive arousal force we are able to be alert and aware. The neuroanatomical pathways serving brain arousal are fairly well known: they are Bilateral, Bidirectional, Universal among vertebrate animals including humans, and they are always involved in Response Potentiation, approach or avoidance responses (BBURP theory). More than 120 genes are involved in the regulation of brain arousal. In theoretical terms, the discussion so far has dealt with 'bottoms up' approaches to awareness - from mechanisms in the hindbrain working through several phylogenetically ancient pathways, to higher levels of awareness. However, we must also consider 'top down' approaches. Based on our thinking and our fantasies, arousal of the central nervous system may be modulated up or down to produce more or less awareness. And then, self-awareness results from our memory of our own behavioral activity.
2008-08-08

The Central Neural Foundations of Awareness and Self-Awareness(WHAT IS LIFE? THE NEXT 100 YEARS OF YUKAWA'S DREAM)

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