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Theory of Neuroscience

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J.Neurol Sci [Turk]

Journal of Neurological Sciences [Turkish] 23:(3)# 8;155-158, 2006

http://www.jns.dergisi.org/text.php3?id=107

Editorial

Nezih OKTAR

Theory of Neuroscience Consciousness

Neuroscience is the study of nervous Clinical observations have established that
system concerning biological basis of certain parts of the brain are essential for
consciousness, perception, memory, and consciousness whereas other parts are not.
learning. Neuroscience links our For example, different areas of the cerebral
observations about cognitive behavior cortex contribute different modalities and
with the actual physical processes that submodalities of consciousness, whereas
support such behavior. Nervous system as the cerebellum does not, despite having
a lineage structure with features of self- even more neurons. It is also well
organizing and changes with use established that consciousness depends on
throughout the lifetime. Science when the way the brain functions. For example,
considering like a paradigm and solving consciousness is much reduced during
problematic data by using theories in the slow wave sleep and generalized seizures,
light of philosophy. Successful pattern of even though the levels of neural activity
theories enlightened improvement in are comparable or higher than in
chemistry and physics. In biology wakefulness. To understand why this is so,
somehow disscussions in complicated empirical observations on the neural
systems are still lack of motive force of correlates of consciousness need to be
rules. Neurobiology itself is a dynamic complemented by a principled theoretical
wondering world. Researchers need some approach. Otherwise, it is unlikely that we
basic theories of neuroscience when could ever establish to what extend
dealing with sophisticated nervous system consciousness is present in neurological
problems. A number of researchers in conditions such as akinetic mutism,
computational/systems neuroscience and in psychomotor seizures, or sleepwalking,
information/communication theory are and to what extent it is present in newborn
investigating problems of information babies and animals (15).
representation and processing. While the Each person has privileged access to his
goals are often the same, these researchers own consciousness, but not to the
bring different perspectives and points of consciousness of others. So consciousness
view to a common set of neuroscience is not a publicly observable, phenomenon
problems. Often they participate in and, in this respect, unlike the phenomena
different fora and their interaction is typically studied by the science. This
limited. Beyond these original methods conception of privacy is confused (2). The
there is a need to develop novel tools and mysteriousness of consciousness as
approaches that are driven by problems something we become, but not something
arising in neuroscience. we do or can be trained to become. One
I would like to begin to discuss these four can be good at learning, discovering,
basic concepts of neuroscience as detecting or finding out certain things, but
consciousness, perception, cognition and one cannot be good at becoming conscious
behaviour respectively. of things (2).

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Becoming conscious, becoming aware, must be complemented by models based

etc., are not things we do, let alone actions on general system theory (14).
we perform. Mental processes are just Cognition and cogitation
brain processes and that consciousness is a
natural phenomenon. It is possible to In between consciousness and behaviour,
construct a theory about its nature by cognition states as a psychological power
blending insights from neuroscience, in the neuroscience issues. Cognitive
philosophy of the mind, phenomenology, neuroscience research on working memory
psychology and evolutionary biology (12). has been largely motivated by a standard
Perception and representation model that arose from the melding of
psychological theory with neuroscience
Perception, imitation, and as a result data (10). Sherrington’s pioneering classic
behaviour modulate in a consciousness neuroscientific findings, split brain
state reserving memory and learning as phenomena, Penfield’s observations in the
basic elements in the neuroscience status. operating room generated much dualistic
Entropy in this system indicates disordered theories (9,11,13). Research from lesion and
condition. In their chapter on sensation and functional neuroimaging studies on remote
perception Bennett & Hacker describe episodic, semantic and spatial memory in
theories of perception that depend on the humans is crucial for evaluating three
concept of representation (2). Modern theories of hippocampal and/or medial
representationalist theories hold that temporal lobe-neocortical interaction in
representations are the brain’s symbolic memory retention and retrieval: cognitive
descriptions or interpretations (as opposed map theory, standard consolidation theory
to isomorphic copies) of the world, from and multiple trace theory. Each of these
which the brain draws inferences about theories has strengths and weaknesses, and
what is really there. As neuroscience there are various unresolved issues. New
methods improve (in particular, in vivo theories had proposed such as a unified
real-time imaging and electrophysiology) account based on multiple trace theory (8).
we appear closer and closer to having the There is a mismatch in timing between the
neural referent of the representation. One development of concepts and the
of the most important goals of experimental techniqes in the
neuroscience is to establish precise neurosciences and it should be asked to
structure-function relationships in the what extend this disparity is of relevance to
brain. Since the 19th century, a major modern discussions of mind, brain and
scientific endeavour has been to associate cognition (4).
structurally distinct cortical regions with
specific cognitive functions. Modern Some authors consider cogitation as the
neuroimaging techniques with high spatial human powers of belief, thought, and
resolution have promised an alternative imagination (2). Studies in neurogenetic and
approach, enabling non-invasive behavioural neuroscience may indicate the
measurements of regionally specific relationship of such a complicated
changes of brain activity that are correlated phenomenon.
with certain components of a cognitive
process. Reviewing classic approaches Behaviour
toward brain structure-function All mentioned previous neuroscience
relationships that are based on correlational challenges operate to support behaviour.
approaches are not sufficient to provide an Studies of multidimensional systems have
understanding of the operation principles founded radical hypothesis on the role of
of a dynamic system such as the brain but

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neuronal attractors in information confabulation for the concept of self-

processing, perception and memory and knowledge (5).
two elaborate models of the internal states Theoretical neuroscience should use the
of the brain. Their modifications during tools of theoretical sciences like
cognitive functions are given special cybernetics, informatics, computational
attention due to their functional and neurosciences or system science. For
adaptive capabilities (7). Analysing fMRI instance little is known about mechanisms
data and designing experiments, will that initiate and maintain the growth of the
relieve the attemps moving from cognition sinoatrial (SA) node. What is the source of
to behavior (6). SA node’s electricity? The methodology
The distinction between “philosophy of of systems science permits the modelling
neuroscience” and “neurophilosophy” has of complex dynamic non-linear systems.
become clearer, due primarily to more Such procedures might help us to
questions now being pursued in both areas. understand brain functions and the
Philosophy of neuroscience still tends to disorders and actions of drugs better (1).
pose traditional questions from philosophy Lots of emerging field of neurobiological
of science specifically about neuroscience. research awaits a general unified theory of
Such questions now include: What is a neuroscience that might then allow its full
neuroscientific explanation? What are the integration into the accepted framework of
explananda of neuroscience? How is it that biology. Intellectual abstraction (including
the instruments used by neuroscientists language, art and science) and emotional
(e.g. neuroimaging, cell recordings, genetic acceleration are synthesized into a
manipulations, simulations) yield theoretical whole. The resulting model will
knowledge? Answers to these questions roughly resemble the human mind.
can be pursued either descriptively (how
does neuroscience proceed?) or To solve these problems and get
normatively (how should neuroscience philosophers and neuroscientists on the
proceed)? Normative projects in same page will require a new view of
philosophy of neuroscience can be meaning, what it is, where it comes from,
deconstructive, by criticizing claims made how it evolves, and what exactly it has to
by neuroscientists. Or they can be do with usage norms. Such a view is, I
constructive, by proposing theories of think, not too far off.
neuronal phenomena or methods for
interpreting neuroscientific data. These Editör
latter projects are often indistinguishable Prof. Nezih Oktar M.D.
from theoretical neuroscience (3). Neuro- editor@jns.dergisi.org
philosophy still applies findings from the
neurosciences to traditional, mainstream The Online Journal of Neurological
philosophical questions, especially ones Sciences (Turkish) 1984-2006
concerning psychological states. Examples This e-journal is run by Ege University
now include: What are emotions? How is Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Neurological
perceptual knowledge possible? How do Surgery, Bornova, Izmir-35100TR as part
we predict each other's behavior? of the Ege Neurological Surgery World
Neurophilosophical answers to these Wide Web service.
questions are constrained by what Comments and feedback:
neuroscience reveals about the realizers of E-mail: editor@jns.dergisi.org
these psychological states. For example, URL: http://www.jns.dergisi.org
Hirstein (2003) examines implications of Journal of Neurological Sciences (Turkish)
neurological syndromes involving ISSNe 1302-1664

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