Sorry, this should have been a new topic. -- Russ Abbott Professor, Computer Science California State University, Los Angeles
On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 1:27 PM Russ Abbott <[email protected]> wrote: > Does anyone think there is anything to this > <https://neurosciencenews.com/electromagnetic-consciousness-17191/>? > > Electromagnetic energy in the brain enables brain matter to create our > consciousness and our ability to be aware and think, according to a new > theory developed by Professor Johnjoe McFadden from the University of > Surrey. > > When neurons in the brain and nervous system fire, they not only send the > familiar electrical signal down the wire-like nerve fibres, but they also > send a pulse of electromagnetic energy into the surrounding tissue. Such > energy is usually disregarded, yet it carries the same information > as nerve firings, but as an immaterial wave of energy, rather than a flow > of atoms in and out of the nerves. > > This electromagnetic field is well-known and is routinely detected by > brain-scanning techniques such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and > magnetoencephalography (MEG) but has previously been dismissed as > irrelevant to brain function. Instead, McFadden proposes that the brain’s > information-rich electromagnetic field is in fact itself the seat of > consciousness, driving ‘free will’ and voluntary actions. > > This new theory also accounts for why, despite their immense complexity > and ultra-fast operation, today’s computers have not exhibited the > slightest spark of consciousness; however, with the right technical > development, robots that are aware and can think for themselves could > become a reality. > > Johnjoe McFadden, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Director of the > Quantum Biology Doctoral Training Centre at the University of Surrey, said: > “How brain matter becomes aware and manages to think is a mystery that has > been pondered by philosophers, theologians, mystics and ordinary people for > millennia. I believe this mystery has now been solved, and > that consciousness is the experience of nerves plugging into the brain’s > self-generated electromagnetic field to drive what we call ‘free will’ and > our voluntary actions.” > > > I'm especially concerned about the final sentence that claims that > consciousness is *the experience* of nerves plugging into the brain's > electromagnetic field. > > That seems to assume what it's trying to explain. Even if all the rest of > it makes sense (and I'm not in a position to judge), what does it mean for > nerves to "experience" anything? Isn't that the issue to be explained? > > > -- Russ Abbott > Professor, Computer Science > California State University, Los Angeles >
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