Phenomenological neuroplasticity as the core biological mechanism of consciousness

Abstract

The subject of the study is phenomenological neuroplasticity, considered as a key biological mechanism that ensures the emergence and development of consciousness. The object of the research is the process of forming subjective phenomenal experience, realized through the dynamic restructuring of neural networks in the brain. Special attention is given to the evolutionary role of neuroplasticity, traced from early vertebrates such as fish to the complex forms of self-consciousness characteristic of humans. The author thoroughly analyzes aspects such as synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation and depression, structural plasticity related to the growth of neural connections, functional plasticity that facilitates the redistribution of functions among brain regions, and neural synchronization supported by gamma rhythms. These processes are investigated in the context of the learning hypothesis, where consciousness is interpreted as a "sense of meaning" that contributes to the adaptability of the organism. The aim of the study is to substantiate phenomenological neuroplasticity as the core of consciousness, which integrates neurobiological mechanisms and evolutionary approaches, offering a holistic model of forming subjective experience and its biological basis. The research is based on the analysis of neurobiological data, an evolutionary model of irritability gradation, and a theoretical synthesis of concepts of consciousness. Methods of comparative analysis and interpretation of experimental studies of neuroplasticity are employed. The main conclusions of the research establish phenomenological neuroplasticity as a key biological core of consciousness, facilitating the formation and development of phenomenal experience. This plasticity has evolved from the simplest forms in early vertebrates to the complex self-consciousness of humans, highlighting its role in the evolution of consciousness. The novelty of the work lies in the integration of neuroplasticity with the learning hypothesis, which views consciousness as an adaptive mechanism that creates a "sense of meaning" for enhancing the organism’s survivability. A significant contribution of the author is the development of a holistic model linking biological processes, such as synaptic and structural plasticity, with subjectivity. This model opens new avenues for neuroscience, offering pathways to study the neural correlates of consciousness, and for the philosophy of consciousness, rethinking the nature of qualia and subjective experience.