Growing Evidence that Perceptual Qualia are Neuroelectrical Not Computational

Journal of Consciousness Studies 26 (5-6):89-116 (2019)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Computational neuroscience attributes coloured areas and other perceptual qualia to calculations that are realizable in multiple cellular forms. This faces serious issues in explaining how the various qualia arise and how they bind to form overall perceptions. Qualia may instead be neuroelectrical. Growing evidence indicates that perceptions correlate with neuroelectrical activity spotted by locally activated EEGs, the different qualia correlate with the different electrochemistries of unique detector cells, a unified neural-electromagnetic field binds this activity to form overall perceptions, and this field interacts with sensory circuits to help attentively guide perception. The coloured areas in images may thus be seated in the electrochemistry of unique cells, while constancy mechanisms and other multiply realizable computations just help refine these images behind the scenes. This theory is ultimately testable.

Links

PhilArchive

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Neuroelectrical approaches to binding problems.Mostyn W. Jones - 2016 - Journal of Mind and Behavior 2 (37).
Testing robots for qualia.James H. Moor - 1988 - In Herbert R. Otto & James A. Tuedio (eds.), Perspectives on Mind. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Qualia space.Richard P. Stanley - 1999 - Journal of Consciousness Studies 6 (1):49-60.
Everything is clear: All perceptual experiences are transparent.Laura Gow - 2019 - European Journal of Philosophy 27 (2):412-425.
Qualia and the Senses.Peter W. Ross - 2001 - Philosophical Quarterly 51 (205):495-511.
The epistemic basis of subjectivity.Scott Sturgeon - 1994 - Journal of Philosophy 91 (5):221-35.
Qualia.Torin Alter - 2003 - In L. Nadel (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science. Nature Publishing Group.
Qualia, Introspection, and Transparency.Renee Janelle Smith - 2002 - Dissertation, University of Colorado at Boulder
Common sense about qualities and senses.Peter W. Ross - 2008 - Philosophical Studies 138 (3):299 - 316.
Functionalism and qualia.Sydney Shoemaker - 1975 - Philosophical Studies 27 (May):291-315.

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-06-15

Downloads
575 (#31,239)

6 months
100 (#44,147)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Mostyn W. Jones
University of Manchester (PhD)

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references