Read this intermittenly across the summer break, and wrote this up, in snatches across last week from digital notes taken after reading each chapter. I have tidied to provide continuity and have added the book into my list of 'need to read through another time' as the book deserves another read to pick out the applicable information to teaching and learning.
For the moment, this overview is a work in progress.
There is review of the book from the Guardian which is mostly positive. The book has 9 chapters plus notes and references – 66 pages or about one third of the book.
The main thread of the book is the identification of what actually makes up consciousness from
the perspective of images taken of the brain as it is active. The various
aspects of what makes up consciousness is unpacked through the various routines
in a ‘typical’ day.
The first chapter is titles ‘in the dark’. This introductory
chapter tries to define ‘consciousness’ by summarising the various approaches taken
thus far to understand the concept. The chapter argues that although there has
been much progress, we are still some way to understanding how consciousness
works. There is still no distinct brain area, or network of brain cells /
neurons or clusters of brain cells in which consciousness can be found. Recent
advances in neuroscience has concentrated on identifying the various
contributions of different brain cells, parts of the brain etc. See connectomeetc. The book tries to come up with a
model or conception of what is consciousness and how it works, to provide some
grounding for further work in neuroscience to validate the idea. The model
promoted in the book relies on unravelling how ‘neural assemblies’ work. Theses
assemblies are posited to be ‘deposits’ from which consciousness ripples forth.
The book then works through a series of explanatory
chapters, loosely tied to the ‘day in the life’ theme. Chapter two delves into
states of consciousness when we sleep and undergo anaesthesia. There is discussion
on what is consciousness and the variability of this state of being. The
concept of neuronal assemblies is then introduced through its historical evolution and a summary of present hypothesis which come through advances in
MRi. The analogy of stones thrown into a pond and the ripples that occur is
then used to provide a visual anchor for neuronal assemblies.
Chapter 3 explores consciousness in non-humans and uses this
to further expand on the details of neuronal assemblies. For example, the
variables and effects – using the analogy of ripples on a pond – of a bigger /
smaller stone and the force / angle of approach etc. when thrown in. A useful
diagram is introduced, explained and discussed. This diagram tries to unpack
the ‘differences’ between mind (the personalised system), the brain (consisting
of neural networks) and consciousness (the subjective experiences – sensory and
cognitive). A continuum of ‘scholarship’ is also designated to each –
philosophy studying the mind, psychology and neuroscience concentrating on the
brain and consciousness and theology with focus on consciousness. Neuronal
assemblies are proposed to bring some order and holism in to how we can
understand the links between brain plasticity, neurogenesis, exercise and
conscious thought.
The fourth chapter explores the five senses, and the
neuroanatomy challenge. Essentially the chapter argues that the brain works in
an all-inclusive manner. Even though one part of the brain may be the main site
of activity for an individual sense, the way organisms perceive the world, is
holistic. We do not just see, but seeing also includes tactile, aural and other
senses. The VAK – visual, auditory, kinaesthetic – learning styles approach –
is debunked as learning requires interconnection of various parts of the brain
to achieve new learning.
Chapter 5 ‘at the office’ is used to mop up the many other
‘sensings’ we need to undertake to perceive our world. Physical features like
how we sense, feel, be emotionally affected by colour; our spatial sense; and
subjective reactions to the environment are discussed.
Chapter 6 ‘problems at home’ looks into the way the brain
develops (adolescence); mental issues (depression; demetia); how the brain
deals with pain, to further develop the argument for the existence and function
of neuronal assemblies.
Dreaming is the focus on chapter 7. A summary is made of the
function, history, phylogeny, neuroscience foundations of dreaming. Chapter 8
brings the argument together with a discussion on whether neuronal assemblies
are the rosetta stone for bringing the fields of physiology and phenomenology
together. A possible mechanism for the generation of consciousness is proposed
and summarised in a diagram.
The last chapter closes the book with how space and time may
be traversed through understanding on how ‘assemblies’ improve our
understandings of how the brain and consciousness work. As per usual, questions
are posed for further investigation and study.
Overall, a readable book without too many parts which are
dense and difficult to unravel. Most of the time, the argument put forward is
clear. Based on reviews - whether the concept of neuronal assemblies withstand
the test of time, remains to be seen.
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