Spectrum Model of Brain and Consciousness
The Spontaneous Brain September 14, 2018 DOI: 10.7551/mitpress/9780262038072.003.0004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the loss of consciousness in vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep is characterized by the loss of the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity, shifting toward the passive pole, and concludes that the spectrum model is relevant for consciousness. |
Abstract
Is the spectrum model of brain and its assumption of the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity relevant for consciousness? That is the focus in the present chapter. I here present various lines of empirical evidence focusing on disorders of consciousness like vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep. These findings suggest that the loss of consciousness in vegetative state, anesthesia, and sleep is characterized by the loss of the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity which shifts more towards the passive pole. This lets me suppose that the hybrid nature of stimulus-induced activity including its spatiotemporal integration as postulated in the spectrum model is central for the level of consciousness. I therefore conclude that the spectrum model of brain is relevant for consciousness.