Indian Journal of Experimental Biology Vol 46, May 2008, pp. 395-402

Consciousness enigma: The "hard problem" – binding problem entanglement, "extra ingredient" and field principle

Michael Lipkind Unit of Molecular Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan, Israel; International Institute of Biophysics, Neuss-Hombroich, Germany

The "Hard problem" of relates to the perplexing emergence of consciousness as a result of the brain activity. The binding problem concerns separate processing of perceived data in functionally and topographically segregated cortical areas and functional integration of such locally disjoined operations into coherently perceived images and events. The existing field-grounded theories of consciousness fall into two groups: (i) those based on the physical (electromagnetic) field, and (ii) those grounded on autonomous fields irreducible to the established physical fundamentals. The critical analysis of the existing theories results in formulation of the extra ingredient and a novel irreducible field-based theory of consciousness.

Keywords: Binding problem, Consciousness emergence, Extra ingredient, Field principle, Hard problem, Protoconsciousness, Protophenomenal fundamental

The problem of consciousness takes up an especial modern version of the binding problem is expressed place within the frame of the general scientific on neurological level being based on the well paradigm. Moreover, there is a conviction that the established evidence on the disjunctive way of problem of consciousness transcends purely scientific processing of visible percepts realized within different limits reaching the acme of philosophical sphere. At brain cortex areas. In particular, the visual data are times, such an "over-generalized" conclusion has had processed separately within about fifty functionally a paralyzing effect on scientific endeavor, and only segregated specialized cortical areas11,12, each one recently, the consciousness problem has been being responsible for a specific feature, like transformed into the modern trend "Toward a science movement, colour, texture, size, curvature, some of consciousness"1-8. However, the new topological properties like height/width ratio, transformation has not solved the situation, and the stereoscopic depth, orientation of lines and edges, and problem of consciousness is still displays insuperable so on11-17. In spite of such spatially segregated difficulties. Nevertheless, on such a hopeless processing of particular features of the object, it is background, more specific problems, namely, the perceived as unitary, i.e. the whole dynamically binding problem and the "hard problem" of changing world appears as integral and coherent. consciousness, have been declared, which, in contrast Therefore, the synthesis of all the disjointed, to the vaguely defined and highly complicated dispersed, and separately processed elements Consciousness per se, are clearly formulated. (components, features) of the complex signals from the continually changing picture of the external world The binding problem must be realized by binding together neurological Historically, the binding problem was connected states occurring in different brain areas. At the same first with psychology being dependent on general time, multi-modal association areas in the cortex in philosophical views on spatial-temporal contiguity of which single perceptual features could be unified into mental representation of the external world9,10. The a final perceptual image have not been found, so there ______is no explanation how the disjointed features of any Telephone: 0097239681616 perceived object are linked together. Such a "binding Fax: 0097239681753 problem" looks rather mysterious since there is no E-mail:[email protected] [email protected] locus in the cortex, which could be called either 396 INDIAN J EXP BIOL., MAY 2008

“master map”13, or multi-modal association areas18, or Such antidromic way of stimuli processing within the central cortical “information exchange”19. neural networks display the bias/variance dilemma Nevertheless, still there is a certain (rather emotional) that is incompatible with the neuronal theory, that hope for future finding of “grandmother” and presenting an insuperable obstacle for the theory of convergence zones19. computational mechanism of the brain functioning. The binding problem is particularly demonstrable According to the modern computational language, the in the case of the visual system. The histological fact problem is formulated as claiming that the objects or is that about 300 retinal rods (the 1st of the their different aspects have to be represented (to co- visual network way) are structurally (histologically) exist) within the same physical “hardware” (brain), connected via bipolar cells (the 2nd neuron) with one that resulting in the “superposition catastrophe”20. ganglion cell (the 3d neuron). Consequently, these Therefore, if to define the main postulate of the 300 adjacent rods form a microarea within retina neuronal theory in the way that each mental which during the vision process may contain representation (“symbol”) of the external objects is heterogeneous picture as projected from a micro-part represented by the corresponding subsets of coactive of the visible object. Thus, the axon of the ganglion neurons within the same brain structure, then if more cell must conduct forward an impulse carrying such than one of such “symbols” become active at a complex (integrated) visual information. This already moment (which must occur within the real is incompatible with the classic neuronal theory functioning pattern), they become superimposed by according to which the neuron firing means only the co-activation (structural “overlapping” of the conduction of a signal that is realized according to the activated subsets). In such a case, any information ‘all-or-none’ principle. carried by the “overlapping” subsets must be lost, that being the mortal verdict for the whole foundations of Thus, apart from the binding problem seemingly the classic neuronal theory. realized on the cortical level, two opposite processes associated with the same current visual signal go on Consequently, the binding problem, being not a simultaneously. One of them consists of the purely theoretical construction but arisen from the very anatomically determined confluence of distinct heart of the neurobiological and psychological reality, signals related to different spatial parts of the looks incomprehensible within the framework of the perceived object into a single but complex signal, its anatomic structure and physiological regularities complexity being based on the additivity (puzzle-like associated with the process. An especial summation) principle – integration of different parts question concerns the relation of the binding problem into a certain whole. The other one consists of the per se (apart from the above integration of signals within above-described splitting of the perceived object’s the retina’s neurons) to the somatic-mental gap, which image into dozens of quite different object’s features, seems so fathomless. In this respect, the main question like shape, movement, colour etc. which are concerns the ‘localization’ of the events associated with processed separately in distinct cortical areas. The splitting of the signals into different components possibility of the coexistence and simultaneous (constituents, features) and their consequent binding, or, realization of these two antidromic processes within better to say, timing of this signal processing in relation the same anatomic unit (system) is totally to the somatic-mental gap (before or after?). A incomprehensible, from the classic (neuronal) point of reasonable supposition is that, the integration of the view. On one hand, there is a confluence (merging, initial signals within the retina level precedes their junction, maybe synthesis) of a number (hundreds!) of further splitting which, hence, occurs still within the axonal impulses reflecting parts (portions, pieces) of somatic level (thalamo-cortical framework), i.e. before the object, and, on the other hand, disjunction the gap, while the binding is realized within the mental (splitting, breaking, maybe analysis) of the object as a level, i.e. after jumping over the gap. The in principle whole – not into parts (portions, pieces) – but into so possibility that both the splitting and binding take place drastically different (somewhat category-like) and within the mental sphere (after the gap) is hardly causally disconnected features, like color, form, probable since the anatomical areas in the brain cortex texture, movement, spatial relationships, etc. And correspond to the already split components/features11-17, after (or in parallel to) that, there is binding of such so that the splitting seems to occur before the signals disjoined features into an integral coherent image. reach the final 5th (cortical) neuron. LIPKIND: CONSCIOUSNESS ENIGMA 397

2. The "hard problem" of consciousness in the current debates on the ‘hard problem', e.g. 'The Recently, the psycho-physical gap was expressed why of consciousness' by V. Hardcastle37. in the form of "hard problem" of consciousness21,22 that exposes a naively simple question: how and why The experimental evidence performance of any form of neural activity can give The experimental approach to the solution of the rise to subjective experience. Accordingly, the "hard "hard problem" and the binding problem meets problem" has centralized two main questions: considerable difficulties. The major experimental (i) how at all consciousness can emerge from a attempts concern the so-called neural correlates of physical system of whatever degree of complexity; consciousness. There has recently been a hot dispute and (ii) how the emerged consciousness can make any about it38 including a special issue of the Journal of effect upon physical stuff via efferent neural ways. By Consciousness Studies with the target paper by Noë critical consideration of a number of works on and Thompson39. Consequently, the suggested neural consciousness of theoretical significance23-34, correlates of consciousness have included: 40-Hertz Chalmers demonstrates their insolvency concerning oscillations in cerebral cortex29, 40-Hertz rhythmic the "hard problem"21. The question has a more general activity in thalamocortical systems40, re-entral loops meaning: why should a physical system of any degree in thalamocortical systems27, extended reticular- of complexity give rise to experience at all? thalamic activation system41, neural assemblies bound by NMDA*42, certain neuron-chemical levels of In the detailed description of the "hard problem", activation43, intralaminar nuclei in thalamus44, Chalmers21 particularizes the 'why' and 'how' neurons in the extrastriate projecting to questions which may look like emotional variations prefrontal areas45, visual processing within the ventral expressing different aspects of the same main stream46, certain neurons in the inferior temporal question, e.g. “why should physical processing give cortex47, and some other candidates48-51. An especial rise to a rich inner life at all?”; “why doesn't all this topic concerns neuronal intracellular microtubules’ information-processing go on ‘in dark’"; “why is it network as one of the candidates for being a correlate that when our cognitive systems engage in visual and of consciousness52-60. auditory information-processing, we have visual or auditory experience...?”; “why is it that when However, to my mind, the major contribution has electromagnetic waveforms impinge on a retina”... the been made by E. R. John and his school61-69 who “discrimination and categorization is experienced as a clearly formulated some particular actual topics to be sensation of vivid red?”; “why is the performance of studied in the sphere of the experimental these functions accompanied by experience?”; “...you . The questions included the have explained how information is discriminated ... synchronization of activities of different neural units but you have not explained how it is experienced”; within a brain area, coherent activity between the “how can we explain why there is something it is like brain areas, the role of coherent oscillations in to entertain a mental image, or to experience an binding, the functional significance of distributed emotion?”; and finally: “It is widely agreed that coherence, spatiotemporal patterns of coherence, and experience arises from a physical basis, but we have the role of coherence in brain encoding of no good explanation of why and how it so arises” information62. John’s substantial contribution to the (boldface is mine). In the above utterances, why and binding problem investigation is grounded on solid, how (not much differing from each other) are not consistently accumulated experimental evidence specifically loaded with a strict terminological burden obtained on animals and humans (cognition, but eloquently express “what the problem is in the psychiatric disorders, and anesthesiology) grounded first place”35. In this respect, Chalmers' why and how on the modern sophisticated technology and brilliant questions diverge from particularly classified by neurosurgical mastery and appearing in consistent Guzeldere36 four w-questions (what, where, who, and accordance with the results of other teams worldwide. why) and the further-how question. In the latter The spatiotemporal arrangement (coherence) in classification, all the w-questions (including why) brain encoding of information63 is of an especial correspond to the Chalmers' 'easy problems' while the ______further-how question corresponds to the 'hard 36 *The NMDA is a receptor for the neurotransmitter glutamate, problem' . However, Chalmers' connotation was used which is the most important excitatory transmitter in the brain. 398 INDIAN J EXP BIOL., MAY 2008

interest being in connection with my own studies on fractionated. This paradox rules out a common source memorization process70. This concerns, in particular, as a plausible explanation…”62. Such logical a certain time incompatibility: “[F]ading but conclusion was supported by the experiments using persistent recollection of the recent past coexists in multiple moving microelectrodes chronically subjective continuity with the momentary present”63. implanted into conditioned cats78. It has been shown Such conclusion has necessitated suggestion about that the observed covariance was due to local constant evaluation of the current sensory information neuronal activity rather than to volume conduction immediately confronted with the previous perceptual from some common source in a distant region. frame (emotional/motivational relevance of the episodic memories, the whole background etc.). Field principle and extra ingredient However, any present immediately (instantly!) The field concept looks as a highly promising becomes the past, so that this past is continually notion for explanation of consciousness. The modern including and accumulating all the current Present. theories of consciousness using the field principle fall However, each present’s moment contains sensory into two groups: (i) those based on the established packet which, while instantly joining the past, physical fields, and (ii) those grounded on immediately turns into perceptual packet. autonomous fields irreducible to the established st The experimentally demonstrated synchronization physical fundamentals. The theories of the 1 group of neuronal activity within and coherence among are based on the reductionist approach explaining spatially separated brain regions was supposed to be a consciousness from the physicalist point of view; they factor binding distinct attributes into an integral may, in principle, elucidate only physical basis of the 38,51,79 percept71-73. Such binding was considered as a neural correlates of consciousness , leaving the prerequisite for the subjective awareness62,74. In this ‘hard problem’ unsolved. The theories of this group 62,63,80-88 respect, the facts of importance are those connected are based mainly on the electromagnetic field 52-60 with oscillations synchronized across the brain and quantum mechanical approach implicating the regions that have been found in human intracranial field principle. In particular, the electromagnetic field recordings enhanced during cognitive tasks and conception elaborated by John explains the abolished by anesthesia75,76. The essential finding is peculiarities of the binding problem by analyzing and that these phase-locked oscillations occur, as it has concretizing the stimuli processing (fractionation, been emphasized, with zero time delay between the selection, and reassembly of the signals). involved regions77. As to the theories based on the autonomous field, Thus, such a synchrony between distant brain i.e. irreducible to the established physical regions with zero time delay is unexplainable by fundamentals, they look as a promising tool for discrete synaptic transactions, which require solving the ‘hard problem’. However, in the existing appreciable time, while the field influence spreads field theories, namely, “morphic resonance” by R. 89,90 91 instantly. This is the ground for integration of the Sheldrake , “integrated field” by M. Kinsbourne , 92 respective different simultaneous and consecutive “mental field” by B. Libet , “receptive field” by G. 93 94 neural processes covering a certain whole that is Rosenberg , “field of consciousness” by W. Hasker , 87,88 emphasized by John as a crucial theoretical obstacle and “unified conscious field” by J. Searle , the field for any comprehensive theory of consciousness: notion, as it has been comprehensively described 95 “[I]ntegration of this dispersed information into previously , is not specified and has only symbolic global consciousness is not compatible with the meaning. All those theories, although different in capacities of any single cell”62. Together with this, content, have a common denominator: the notion of John does not accept a proposition about the existence field in each theory has no field-specific postulations. of a remote common source from which “parallel Thus, the concluding Chalmers' claim that "a full influences” may arrive simultaneously at all the areas theory of consciousness must build an explanatory involved in analysis of the attributes of the bridge" between neurophysiology and consciousness21 corresponding signal. He claims that such could be achieved if an extra ingredient in the “hypothetical generator must be credited with a priori explanation is included, because "the emergence of knowledge of what features are to be bound, requiring experience goes beyond what can be derived from the multimodal sensitivity to those attributes which are physical theory"21. Consequently, the concept of the LIPKIND: CONSCIOUSNESS ENIGMA 399

extra ingredient, itself, means that the consciousness consciousness, the field notion, which is the only is irreducible to the established physical principle explaining the non-locality, wholeness, and fundamentals. On the basis of these clearly dualistic synchronicity of the conscious events, must be utterances**, Chalmers dwells on possible candidates accepted at least as an abstract principle with the hope for such extra ingredient, namely, non-algorithmic for its possible realization. processing, non-linear and chaotic dynamics21, 5. The only theoretical possibility concerns the quantum mechanics52, and even “future discoveries” irreducible field-based theory of consciousness, in in neurophysiology. He convincingly proves that there which the field notion is strictly defined by the formal is “nothing extra” in those ingredients as far as their prerogative field-specific postulates inherent to any explaining power is concerned – still the same "non-metaphorical" field, irrespective to its physical question remains unanswered: why should each of nature. The formulated postulates98-100 include those processes give rise to the experience? implication of actual field source(s); action-at-a- distance; unboundedness (absence of any distinct 5. Discussion boundaries of the field influence, which, hence, The above considerations lead to the following theoretically is infinite); field integrity; dependence of conclusions. certain parameters of any in-field-occurring process 1. The results by Desmedt and Tomberg77 showing on its coordinates within a certain whole; field zero time delay in phase locked oscillations between ‘direction’ from the ‘classic’ scalar and vectorial the involved brain regions are of especial importance fields till the modern highly complicated (tensor- explaining the existing synchrony of neural processes string-twistor, etc.) expressions associated with the between distant brain regions. Such a zero time delay ‘over-classic’ number of dimensions; and field is unexplainable by discrete synaptic transactions and measurability, i.e. quantitative estimation of certain can be explained by accepting the field principle field particulars, like intensity, decrement etc. The characterized by the instant speed (speed of light). acceptance of the above postulates secures any 2. However, the electromagnetic theories of suggested field conception from sliding into consciousness have to be accepted as groundless that symbolic-metaphoric-allegoric meaning. is proven even by S. Pockett82 – one of the theory 6. Consequently, the problem consists in formulation initiators80,81. Moreover, in general, the idea of the of a non-physical extra ingredient described by the strict electromagnetic "nature" of consciousness stands in physical-mathematical language and associated with the contrast to biological reality. biological reality. The corresponding irreversible field- 3. In the field theories of consciousness based on based theory of consciousness must be grounded on the the irreducible fields, the notion of “field” becomes to above-formulated postulates. At the first glance, the task 92 87,88 be either tautological , or metaphoric , or seems utopian. 89,90 93 94 7. However, a miracle is that exactly such field esoteric , or allegoric , or symbolic , so that in the theory was elaborated rather long ago101-103, expression "field of consciousness", the word “field” 104-107 comprehensively reviewed , and employed for looses its scientific meaning and could be easily 98-100 the explanation of the consciousness enigma . exchanged with the words “state”, “stream”,

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