Neurorobotics Reveals Brain Mechanisms Of Self-Consciousness

[Moontanman]

Neurorobotics Reveals Brain Mechanisms of Self-Consciousness

 

A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with one of the most fundamental subjective human feelings: self-consciousness. The research identifies a brain region called the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) as being critical for the feeling of being an entity localized at a particular position in space and for perceiving the world from this position and perspective. (Credit: © paul prescott / Fotolia)

 

ScienceDaily (Apr. 27, 2011) — A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with one of the most fundamental subjective human feelings: self-consciousness. The research, published in the April 28 issue of the journal Neuron, identifies a brain region called the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) as being critical for the feeling of being an entity localized at a particular position in space and for perceiving the world from this position and perspective.

 

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110427131818.htm

[CraigD]

I think Science Daily's, and other science digest writers, have miss-titled this articles and others like it.

 

According to the article, Blanke and coauthors' paper, "Multisensory Mechanisms in Temporo-Parietal Cortex Support Self-Location and First-Person Perspective" involves research of the neurology of having a sense of self-location, not of self-consciousness - being conscious of ones self.

 

There's a significant difference. The techniques used to "manipulate self-location" in healthy humans - from previous papers and articles, I gather this involves having a person use camera vision and robotic manipulation devices to produce the sensation of being where the cameras and manipulators are, rather than the usual place in vis own head - while imaging vis brain, could in principle be used on, say, a housecat. Housecats have a sense of self-location. However, housecats fail the mirror test. Housecats lack a concept of self - self-consciousness.