the great pleasure to be here and to be first speaker as well so consciousness
first speaker as well so consciousness
first speaker as well so consciousness for each of us consciousness is all that
for each of us consciousness is all that
for each of us consciousness is all that is it is both the most mysterious and
is it is both the most mysterious and
is it is both the most mysterious and the most familiar aspects of our
the most familiar aspects of our
the most familiar aspects of our existence conscious experiences define
existence conscious experiences define
existence conscious experiences define our lives but the private the subjective
our lives but the private the subjective
our lives but the private the subjective the sheer what it is like nurse of the
the sheer what it is like nurse of the
the sheer what it is like nurse of the conscious experience seems always to
conscious experience seems always to
conscious experience seems always to resist scientific explanation how can
resist scientific explanation how can
resist scientific explanation how can the redness of red the warmth of a log
the redness of red the warmth of a log
the redness of red the warmth of a log fire or the pang of jealousy ever be
fire or the pang of jealousy ever be
fire or the pang of jealousy ever be accounted for in terms of biological and
accounted for in terms of biological and
accounted for in terms of biological and physical processes happening inside our
physical processes happening inside our
physical processes happening inside our brains and our bodies and among all the
brains and our bodies and among all the
brains and our bodies and among all the conscious experiences that we have one
conscious experiences that we have one
conscious experiences that we have one is very special and this is the
is very special and this is the
is very special and this is the experience of being a conscious self the
experience of being a conscious self the
experience of being a conscious self the experience of being you or of being me
experience of being you or of being me
experience of being you or of being me how could this ever be explained in
how could this ever be explained in
how could this ever be explained in terms of biology and physics when
terms of biology and physics when
terms of biology and physics when thinking about consciousness at all it’s
thinking about consciousness at all it’s
thinking about consciousness at all it’s very hard to avoid Descartes who back in
very hard to avoid Descartes who back in
very hard to avoid Descartes who back in the 17th century split the universe into
the 17th century split the universe into
the 17th century split the universe into massive stuff Raz extends are the stuff
massive stuff Raz extends are the stuff
massive stuff Raz extends are the stuff that tables and chairs and brains and
that tables and chairs and brains and
that tables and chairs and brains and bodies are made of and mine stuff res
bodies are made of and mine stuff res
bodies are made of and mine stuff res Kaja tans the stuff of thought and of
Kaja tans the stuff of thought and of
Kaja tans the stuff of thought and of conscious experience in doing this he
conscious experience in doing this he
conscious experience in doing this he gave rise the now-infamous mind-body
gave rise the now-infamous mind-body
gave rise the now-infamous mind-body problem the philosophy of dualism and
problem the philosophy of dualism and
problem the philosophy of dualism and things have never been simple ever since
things have never been simple ever since
things have never been simple ever since but they cannot has another less known
but they cannot has another less known
but they cannot has another less known legacy which is his idea of the beast
legacy which is his idea of the beast
legacy which is his idea of the beast machine and they can’t argued that only
machine and they can’t argued that only
machine and they can’t argued that only humans have minds and that other animals
humans have minds and that other animals
humans have minds and that other animals were just fleshy machines without
were just fleshy machines without
were just fleshy machines without rational souls to guide their movements
rational souls to guide their movements
rational souls to guide their movements and in this view the fact that we’re
and in this view the fact that we’re
and in this view the fact that we’re made of flesh and blood had little or no
made of flesh and blood had little or no
made of flesh and blood had little or no relevance to our minds are our selves or
relevance to our minds are our selves or
relevance to our minds are our selves or our conscious experiences and what I
our conscious experiences and what I
our conscious experiences and what I want to tell you today is a very
want to tell you today is a very
want to tell you today is a very different story and that’s the story
different story and that’s the story
different story and that’s the story that our conscious self er depends
that our conscious self er depends
that our conscious self er depends fundamentally on the fact that we are
fundamentally on the fact that we are
fundamentally on the fact that we are human animals that we too are beast
human animals that we too are beast
human animals that we too are beast machines so let’s start at the early
machines so let’s start at the early
machines so let’s start at the early days of psychology when the physiologist
days of psychology when the physiologist
days of psychology when the physiologist hermann von helmholtz
hermann von helmholtz
hermann von helmholtz the
the
the the idea of the brain as a prediction
the idea of the brain as a prediction
the idea of the brain as a prediction machine the idea is very simple the
machine the idea is very simple the
machine the idea is very simple the brain is locked inside a bony skull all
brain is locked inside a bony skull all
brain is locked inside a bony skull all it receives are noisy and ambiguous
it receives are noisy and ambiguous
it receives are noisy and ambiguous sensory signals through the various
sensory signals through the various
sensory signals through the various senses which are only indirectly related
senses which are only indirectly related
senses which are only indirectly related to objects in the world things out there
to objects in the world things out there
to objects in the world things out there in the world and so perception becomes a
in the world and so perception becomes a
in the world and so perception becomes a process of informed guesswork the brain
process of informed guesswork the brain
process of informed guesswork the brain is trying to figure out what are the
is trying to figure out what are the
is trying to figure out what are the most likely causes of these noisy and
most likely causes of these noisy and
most likely causes of these noisy and ambiguous sensory signals that it gets
ambiguous sensory signals that it gets
ambiguous sensory signals that it gets it combines prior beliefs or
it combines prior beliefs or
it combines prior beliefs or expectations about the way the world is
expectations about the way the world is
expectations about the way the world is with sensory information that comes in
with sensory information that comes in
with sensory information that comes in to come up with its best guesses of
to come up with its best guesses of
to come up with its best guesses of what’s out there let me give you a very
what’s out there let me give you a very
what’s out there let me give you a very simple example of what I mean by this
simple example of what I mean by this
simple example of what I mean by this this is a famous visual illusion called
this is a famous visual illusion called
this is a famous visual illusion called Adelson’s checkerboard now if you look
Adelson’s checkerboard now if you look
Adelson’s checkerboard now if you look at this you see two patches a and B and
at this you see two patches a and B and
at this you see two patches a and B and they should look different shades of
they should look different shades of
they should look different shades of grey to you they are in fact exactly the
grey to you they are in fact exactly the
grey to you they are in fact exactly the same shade of grey and I can illustrate
same shade of grey and I can illustrate
same shade of grey and I can illustrate this if I just put up another version
this if I just put up another version
this if I just put up another version with the two patches joined together and
with the two patches joined together and
with the two patches joined together and you can see they’re exactly the same
you can see they’re exactly the same
you can see they’re exactly the same shade of grey and if you still not sure
shade of grey and if you still not sure
shade of grey and if you still not sure well I just zoom that gray bar across
well I just zoom that gray bar across
well I just zoom that gray bar across and join up the two on that picture and
and join up the two on that picture and
and join up the two on that picture and you can see there in fact they really
you can see there in fact they really
you can see there in fact they really are the same shade of grey if you put a
are the same shade of grey if you put a
are the same shade of grey if you put a light meter on there they would read
light meter on there they would read
light meter on there they would read exactly the same and if I take the bar
exactly the same and if I take the bar
exactly the same and if I take the bar away again they again look different so
away again they again look different so
away again they again look different so what’s going on here what’s happening is
what’s going on here what’s happening is
what’s going on here what’s happening is that the brain is using its inbuilt
that the brain is using its inbuilt
that the brain is using its inbuilt knowledge which is deeply embedded in
knowledge which is deeply embedded in
knowledge which is deeply embedded in the visual system that a cast shadow
the visual system that a cast shadow
the visual system that a cast shadow dims the appearance of surfaces and so
dims the appearance of surfaces and so
dims the appearance of surfaces and so we see the patch B to be lighter than it
we see the patch B to be lighter than it
we see the patch B to be lighter than it really is an example that might be more
really is an example that might be more
really is an example that might be more familiar from everyday life if you walk
familiar from everyday life if you walk
familiar from everyday life if you walk out on a foggy morning and you’re
out on a foggy morning and you’re
out on a foggy morning and you’re expecting to meet a friend you might
expecting to meet a friend you might
expecting to meet a friend you might actually see them to be there until you
actually see them to be there until you
actually see them to be there until you get closer and you realize that’s it’s a
get closer and you realize that’s it’s a
get closer and you realize that’s it’s a stranger that you’re walking up to you
stranger that you’re walking up to you
stranger that you’re walking up to you and this is another example of where our
and this is another example of where our
and this is another example of where our brains expectations determine what we
brains expectations determine what we
brains expectations determine what we consciously see now this changes quite
consciously see now this changes quite
consciously see now this changes quite dramatically how we think about
dramatically how we think about
dramatically how we think about perception in the classical view of
perception in the classical view of
perception in the classical view of perception we have sensory signals that
perception we have sensory signals that
perception we have sensory signals that come in let’s say in these through the
come in let’s say in these through the
come in let’s say in these through the eyes into the retina
eyes into the retina
eyes into the retina and as they progress deeper and deeper
and as they progress deeper and deeper
and as they progress deeper and deeper into the brain they’re processed in more
into the brain they’re processed in more
into the brain they’re processed in more sophisticated ways this is the visual
sophisticated ways this is the visual
sophisticated ways this is the visual system of a monkey and it illustrates
system of a monkey and it illustrates
system of a monkey and it illustrates this idea of perception as this
this idea of perception as this
this idea of perception as this bottom-up kind of process where sensory
bottom-up kind of process where sensory
bottom-up kind of process where sensory information comes in and just percolates
information comes in and just percolates
information comes in and just percolates deeper and deeper into the into the
deeper and deeper into the into the
deeper and deeper into the into the brain the idea of the prediction machine
brain the idea of the prediction machine
brain the idea of the prediction machine flips this entirely so that the
flips this entirely so that the
flips this entirely so that the important part of perception is not what
important part of perception is not what
important part of perception is not what comes into the brain from the outside
comes into the brain from the outside
comes into the brain from the outside world but what’s coming from deep inside
world but what’s coming from deep inside
world but what’s coming from deep inside the brain back out to the sensory
the brain back out to the sensory
the brain back out to the sensory surfaces and then out into the world
surfaces and then out into the world
surfaces and then out into the world beyond it depends on these top-down or
beyond it depends on these top-down or
beyond it depends on these top-down or inside out signals which carry the
inside out signals which carry the
inside out signals which carry the brains predictions or hypotheses about
brains predictions or hypotheses about
brains predictions or hypotheses about what’s out there and more specifically
what’s out there and more specifically
what’s out there and more specifically and this is the most complicated slide
and this is the most complicated slide
and this is the most complicated slide I’m going to show today more
I’m going to show today more
I’m going to show today more specifically we can think that signals
specifically we can think that signals
specifically we can think that signals that come from the outside will just
that come from the outside will just
that come from the outside will just carry prediction errors the difference
carry prediction errors the difference
carry prediction errors the difference between what the brain expects and what
between what the brain expects and what
between what the brain expects and what it gets at different levels of
it gets at different levels of
it gets at different levels of processing and perception itself is
processing and perception itself is
processing and perception itself is determined by predictions that flow in
determined by predictions that flow in
determined by predictions that flow in the opposite direction from deep inside
the opposite direction from deep inside
the opposite direction from deep inside the brain back out there’s a lot of
the brain back out there’s a lot of
the brain back out there’s a lot of experiment evidence that now supports
experiment evidence that now supports
experiment evidence that now supports this view and some of that’s from our
this view and some of that’s from our
this view and some of that’s from our own lab at the University of Sussex but
own lab at the University of Sussex but
own lab at the University of Sussex but rather than go through the details I
rather than go through the details I
rather than go through the details I just want to give you an intuitive feel
just want to give you an intuitive feel
just want to give you an intuitive feel for how perception can be thought of as
for how perception can be thought of as
for how perception can be thought of as this constructive generative process and
this constructive generative process and
this constructive generative process and what you see here is a clever use of
what you see here is a clever use of
what you see here is a clever use of well call it clever a use of virtual
well call it clever a use of virtual
well call it clever a use of virtual reality and image processing so that we
reality and image processing so that we
reality and image processing so that we simulate a condition in which the brain
simulate a condition in which the brain
simulate a condition in which the brain is applying very strong overly strong
is applying very strong overly strong
is applying very strong overly strong priors or expectations that the world is
priors or expectations that the world is
priors or expectations that the world is full of dogs this is actually Sussex
full of dogs this is actually Sussex
full of dogs this is actually Sussex campus and it’s been transformed into a
campus and it’s been transformed into a
campus and it’s been transformed into a kind of psychedelic playground and what
kind of psychedelic playground and what
kind of psychedelic playground and what we’ve done we’ve taken panoramic video
we’ve done we’ve taken panoramic video
we’ve done we’ve taken panoramic video footage processed it through an
footage processed it through an
footage processed it through an algorithm based on Google’s deep dream
algorithm based on Google’s deep dream
algorithm based on Google’s deep dream software if you’ve seen that and and we
software if you’ve seen that and and we
software if you’ve seen that and and we replay it through a virtual reality
replay it through a virtual reality
replay it through a virtual reality headset so it becomes very immersive and
headset so it becomes very immersive and
headset so it becomes very immersive and so what you now experience when you wear
so what you now experience when you wear
so what you now experience when you wear the headset is what it would be like if
the headset is what it would be like if
the headset is what it would be like if your brain were always expecting the
your brain were always expecting the
your brain were always expecting the world to be full of dogs now this
world to be full of dogs now this
world to be full of dogs now this looks like fun and it is quite fun but
looks like fun and it is quite fun but
looks like fun and it is quite fun but there’s a serious purpose here which is
there’s a serious purpose here which is
there’s a serious purpose here which is that we can use these kinds of
that we can use these kinds of
that we can use these kinds of experiments to better understand the
experiments to better understand the
experiments to better understand the mechanisms underlying conscious vision
mechanisms underlying conscious vision
mechanisms underlying conscious vision both in normal experience and in unusual
both in normal experience and in unusual
both in normal experience and in unusual situations like hallucination where
situations like hallucination where
situations like hallucination where people see things that really aren’t
people see things that really aren’t
people see things that really aren’t there or what we can say so far just to
there or what we can say so far just to
there or what we can say so far just to summarize the point so far is that the
summarize the point so far is that the
summarize the point so far is that the what we consciously see is the brains
what we consciously see is the brains
what we consciously see is the brains best guess of the causes of its sensory
best guess of the causes of its sensory
best guess of the causes of its sensory input it’s like a fantasy that sometimes
input it’s like a fantasy that sometimes
input it’s like a fantasy that sometimes but not always coincides with reality so
but not always coincides with reality so
but not always coincides with reality so that’s about our experience of the world
that’s about our experience of the world
that’s about our experience of the world outside but now let’s think about the
outside but now let’s think about the
outside but now let’s think about the experience of being a self again it
experience of being a self again it
experience of being a self again it might be easy to think that we can be
might be easy to think that we can be
might be easy to think that we can be misled about how we experience the world
misled about how we experience the world
misled about how we experience the world we’re all familiar and comfortable with
we’re all familiar and comfortable with
we’re all familiar and comfortable with visual illusions but how could we ever
visual illusions but how could we ever
visual illusions but how could we ever be mistaken about perceiving what it is
be mistaken about perceiving what it is
be mistaken about perceiving what it is to be ourselves is our experience of
to be ourselves is our experience of
to be ourselves is our experience of self also some kind of neuronal fantasy
self also some kind of neuronal fantasy
self also some kind of neuronal fantasy this seems a little bit harder to accept
this seems a little bit harder to accept
this seems a little bit harder to accept but a first clue that something like
but a first clue that something like
but a first clue that something like this might be going on is that there are
this might be going on is that there are
this might be going on is that there are many ways in which we experience being a
many ways in which we experience being a
many ways in which we experience being a self there’s the bodily self which is
self there’s the bodily self which is
self there’s the bodily self which is the experience of having and of being a
the experience of having and of being a
the experience of having and of being a body
body
body there’s the perspectival self which is
there’s the perspectival self which is
there’s the perspectival self which is the experience of seeing the world from
the experience of seeing the world from
the experience of seeing the world from a particular first-person point of view
a particular first-person point of view
a particular first-person point of view the volitional self is the experience of
the volitional self is the experience of
the volitional self is the experience of intending to do things and of making
intending to do things and of making
intending to do things and of making things happen and then at higher levels
things happen and then at higher levels
things happen and then at higher levels we have the narrative and the social
we have the narrative and the social
we have the narrative and the social self this is where the eye comes in as
self this is where the eye comes in as
self this is where the eye comes in as the experience of being a continuous and
the experience of being a continuous and
the experience of being a continuous and distinctive person over time built from
distinctive person over time built from
distinctive person over time built from a rich set of of memories and social
a rich set of of memories and social
a rich set of of memories and social interactions and all these different
interactions and all these different
interactions and all these different ways of experiencing being self can come
ways of experiencing being self can come
ways of experiencing being self can come apart both in experiments and in various
apart both in experiments and in various
apart both in experiments and in various clinical conditions and this suggests
clinical conditions and this suggests
clinical conditions and this suggests that our unified experience of salford
that our unified experience of salford
that our unified experience of salford is also something of an illusion it’s
is also something of an illusion it’s
is also something of an illusion it’s really a construction of the brain and
really a construction of the brain and
really a construction of the brain and I’m going to focus on the bodily self
I’m going to focus on the bodily self
I’m going to focus on the bodily self this is the experience of having a body
this is the experience of having a body
this is the experience of having a body and being a body and the idea is that
and being a body and the idea is that
and being a body and the idea is that just the same kinds of processes apply
just the same kinds of processes apply
just the same kinds of processes apply to how we experience our body as apply
to how we experience our body as apply
to how we experience our body as apply to how we experience the wider world
to how we experience the wider world
to how we experience the wider world that is we experience our body as the
that is we experience our body as the
that is we experience our body as the brains best get
brains best get
brains best get of what parts of the world are in fact
of what parts of the world are in fact
of what parts of the world are in fact parts of its body and in the case of
parts of its body and in the case of
parts of its body and in the case of experiencing the body this isn’t just
experiencing the body this isn’t just
experiencing the body this isn’t just based on classical sensors like vision
based on classical sensors like vision
based on classical sensors like vision and touch but also on sensory
and touch but also on sensory
and touch but also on sensory information that’s specific to the body
information that’s specific to the body
information that’s specific to the body and this includes what we call
and this includes what we call
and this includes what we call proprioception which is the sense of
proprioception which is the sense of
proprioception which is the sense of body position in space even if you’re
body position in space even if you’re
body position in space even if you’re not looking at your body you experience
not looking at your body you experience
not looking at your body you experience you know where it is in space and
you know where it is in space and
you know where it is in space and critically for me anyway into reception
critically for me anyway into reception
critically for me anyway into reception into reception is the sense of the body
into reception is the sense of the body
into reception is the sense of the body from within it’s all the information
from within it’s all the information
from within it’s all the information that’s coming into the brain telling the
that’s coming into the brain telling the
that’s coming into the brain telling the brain about the internal physiological
brain about the internal physiological
brain about the internal physiological state blood pressure
state blood pressure
state blood pressure heartbeat information about the gut gut
heartbeat information about the gut gut
heartbeat information about the gut gut feelings and so on all this is also very
feelings and so on all this is also very
feelings and so on all this is also very important in determining our sense of
important in determining our sense of
important in determining our sense of self so the idea then is that our
self so the idea then is that our
self so the idea then is that our experience of being a self is the joint
experience of being a self is the joint
experience of being a self is the joint best prediction of the causes of self
best prediction of the causes of self
best prediction of the causes of self related signals in all these different
related signals in all these different
related signals in all these different kinds of ways proprioceptive
kinds of ways proprioceptive
kinds of ways proprioceptive interoceptive and extra receptive like
interoceptive and extra receptive like
interoceptive and extra receptive like vision and such a classic experiment
vision and such a classic experiment
vision and such a classic experiment illustrates this very beautifully and
illustrates this very beautifully and
illustrates this very beautifully and makes it all very clear this is the
makes it all very clear this is the
makes it all very clear this is the rubber hand illusion and in the rubber
rubber hand illusion and in the rubber
rubber hand illusion and in the rubber hand illusion you have a person who
hand illusion you have a person who
hand illusion you have a person who their real hand is hidden and they focus
their real hand is hidden and they focus
their real hand is hidden and they focus their attention on a fake hand and the
their attention on a fake hand and the
their attention on a fake hand and the experimenter who’s the chap in the green
experimenter who’s the chap in the green
experimenter who’s the chap in the green shirt simultaneously strokes the real
shirt simultaneously strokes the real
shirt simultaneously strokes the real hands in the fake hands with a with a
hands in the fake hands with a with a
hands in the fake hands with a with a paintbrush and for most people after a
paintbrush and for most people after a
paintbrush and for most people after a while what happens is they begin to
while what happens is they begin to
while what happens is they begin to experience the fake hands as becoming
experience the fake hands as becoming
experience the fake hands as becoming part of their body and the idea is that
part of their body and the idea is that
part of their body and the idea is that seeing an object that looks a bit like a
seeing an object that looks a bit like a
seeing an object that looks a bit like a hand feeling touch and seeing that
hand feeling touch and seeing that
hand feeling touch and seeing that objects being touched is enough evidence
objects being touched is enough evidence
objects being touched is enough evidence for the brain
to convince the brain that that hand is
to convince the brain that that hand is in fact part of its body and that’s the
in fact part of its body and that’s the
in fact part of its body and that’s the most scientifically reliable way to test
most scientifically reliable way to test
most scientifically reliable way to test that it that it works
but for my purposes one part of this
but for my purposes one part of this experiment is missing and that’s
experiment is missing and that’s
experiment is missing and that’s interoception this is about a touch and
interoception this is about a touch and
interoception this is about a touch and what you see and where you feel your
what you see and where you feel your
what you see and where you feel your hand is so in our lab we wanted to ask
hand is so in our lab we wanted to ask
hand is so in our lab we wanted to ask whether signals from inside the body
whether signals from inside the body
whether signals from inside the body also affects how we experience what is
also affects how we experience what is
also affects how we experience what is and what is not part of our body so we
and what is not part of our body so we
and what is not part of our body so we used virtual reality in heartbeat
used virtual reality in heartbeat
used virtual reality in heartbeat monitoring to develop a new version of
monitoring to develop a new version of
monitoring to develop a new version of this rubber hand illusion in which
this rubber hand illusion in which
this rubber hand illusion in which subjects see a virtual reality version
subjects see a virtual reality version
subjects see a virtual reality version of their hand that flashes in time or
of their hand that flashes in time or
of their hand that flashes in time or out of time with their heartbeat a
out of time with their heartbeat a
out of time with their heartbeat a gentle red color and what we found is
gentle red color and what we found is
gentle red color and what we found is that when the virtual hands flashes red
that when the virtual hands flashes red
that when the virtual hands flashes red in time with your heartbeat you
in time with your heartbeat you
in time with your heartbeat you experience it as more belonging to you
experience it as more belonging to you
experience it as more belonging to you you experience a greater sense of
you experience a greater sense of
you experience a greater sense of ownership over that virtual hand and
ownership over that virtual hand and
ownership over that virtual hand and this shows that the brain is putting
this shows that the brain is putting
this shows that the brain is putting together signals from outside the body
together signals from outside the body
together signals from outside the body and inside the body in determining what
and inside the body in determining what
and inside the body in determining what in the world its body actually is now we
in the world its body actually is now we
in the world its body actually is now we can use this setup to do a not very asau
can use this setup to do a not very asau
can use this setup to do a not very asau the kinds of manipulations which should
the kinds of manipulations which should
the kinds of manipulations which should be difficult or impossible outside the
be difficult or impossible outside the
be difficult or impossible outside the virtual world we can map hand movements
virtual world we can map hand movements
virtual world we can map hand movements the virtual hand we can change the skin
the virtual hand we can change the skin
the virtual hand we can change the skin colour to see if it makes you more or
colour to see if it makes you more or
colour to see if it makes you more or less racist and most interesting to me I
less racist and most interesting to me I
less racist and most interesting to me I think we can actually change the size of
think we can actually change the size of
think we can actually change the size of the body so that you experience your
the body so that you experience your
the body so that you experience your hand as telescoping up and down in size
hand as telescoping up and down in size
hand as telescoping up and down in size and again this seems like a bit of fun
and again this seems like a bit of fun
and again this seems like a bit of fun but there’s a serious purpose because
but there’s a serious purpose because
but there’s a serious purpose because with this kind of technology we can
with this kind of technology we can
with this kind of technology we can systematically investigate various
systematically investigate various
systematically investigate various misperceptions and delusions of the body
misperceptions and delusions of the body
misperceptions and delusions of the body and better understand their origins and
and better understand their origins and
and better understand their origins and their consequences so this brings me to
their consequences so this brings me to
their consequences so this brings me to the idea then that the self is just like
the idea then that the self is just like
the idea then that the self is just like we perceive the external world as the
we perceive the external world as the
we perceive the external world as the brains best guess the self is the brains
brains best guess the self is the brains
brains best guess the self is the brains best guess of the causes of self related
best guess of the causes of self related
best guess of the causes of self related sensory signals now there’s one final
sensory signals now there’s one final
sensory signals now there’s one final twist to this story which brings us back
twist to this story which brings us back
twist to this story which brings us back to the idea of being a beef machine and
to the idea of being a beef machine and
to the idea of being a beef machine and what I talked about so far the brain’s
what I talked about so far the brain’s
what I talked about so far the brain’s predictions are all to do with
predictions are all to do with
predictions are all to do with perception all to do with figuring out
perception all to do with figuring out
perception all to do with figuring out what’s out there in the world and that
what’s out there in the world and that
what’s out there in the world and that includes the body but predictions can
includes the body but predictions can
includes the body but predictions can also be used for control when we can
also be used for control when we can
also be used for control when we can predict something very well we can we
predict something very well we can we
predict something very well we can we can control it we can regulate it and
can control it we can regulate it and
can control it we can regulate it and this is I think critical for how
this is I think critical for how
this is I think critical for how predictive models operate in the brain
predictive models operate in the brain
predictive models operate in the brain because when we are predicting things
because when we are predicting things
because when we are predicting things about the self what we’re really
about the self what we’re really
about the self what we’re really interested in doing is controlling the
interested in doing is controlling the
interested in doing is controlling the self not necessarily figuring out what
self not necessarily figuring out what
self not necessarily figuring out what it’s like let me give you a simple
it’s like let me give you a simple
it’s like let me give you a simple example of how predictions can be used
example of how predictions can be used
example of how predictions can be used for control when you run to catch a
for control when you run to catch a
for control when you run to catch a cricket ball or any kind of ball you can
cricket ball or any kind of ball you can
cricket ball or any kind of ball you can either figure out where it’s going to
either figure out where it’s going to
either figure out where it’s going to land and just run there and wait for it
land and just run there and wait for it
land and just run there and wait for it or you can move in order to control what
or you can move in order to control what
or you can move in order to control what you perceive and specifically it turns
you perceive and specifically it turns
you perceive and specifically it turns out if you move so as to minimize the
out if you move so as to minimize the
out if you move so as to minimize the acceleration of the tangent of the angle
acceleration of the tangent of the angle
acceleration of the tangent of the angle of the elevation of the ball for the
of the elevation of the ball for the
of the elevation of the ball for the horizon which is a very long-winded way
horizon which is a very long-winded way
horizon which is a very long-winded way of saying move so it still looks it’s
of saying move so it still looks it’s
of saying move so it still looks it’s roughly the same height above the
roughly the same height above the
roughly the same height above the horizon it turns out you will always
horizon it turns out you will always
horizon it turns out you will always catch the ball no matter if you do
catch the ball no matter if you do
catch the ball no matter if you do that’s what we have to do and in this
that’s what we have to do and in this
that’s what we have to do and in this case what the cricket what the fielder
case what the cricket what the fielder
case what the cricket what the fielder is doing is using action instead of
is doing is using action instead of
is doing is using action instead of updating their predictions about what’s
updating their predictions about what’s
updating their predictions about what’s going on they’re changing the data they
going on they’re changing the data they
going on they’re changing the data they get through through moving they’re
get through through moving they’re
get through through moving they’re reducing their sensory prediction error
reducing their sensory prediction error
reducing their sensory prediction error through making movements and they’re
through making movements and they’re
through making movements and they’re controlling what they perceive they’re
controlling what they perceive they’re
controlling what they perceive they’re keeping the angle above the horizon the
keeping the angle above the horizon the
keeping the angle above the horizon the same now I think this is absolutely key
same now I think this is absolutely key
same now I think this is absolutely key for interception because when we think
for interception because when we think
for interception because when we think about vision okay fine when we when we
about vision okay fine when we when we
about vision okay fine when we when we visually experience the world it’s very
visually experience the world it’s very
visually experience the world it’s very important to know what’s actually out
important to know what’s actually out
important to know what’s actually out there but when we’re predicting things
there but when we’re predicting things
there but when we’re predicting things about our internal bodily state we’re
about our internal bodily state we’re
about our internal bodily state we’re much more interested in controlling it
much more interested in controlling it
much more interested in controlling it so long as we can keep our heartbeat
so long as we can keep our heartbeat
so long as we can keep our heartbeat blood pressure and so on within the
blood pressure and so on within the
blood pressure and so on within the limits that are necessary for staying
limits that are necessary for staying
limits that are necessary for staying alive it doesn’t much matter if you’ve
alive it doesn’t much matter if you’ve
alive it doesn’t much matter if you’ve got a vivid perceptual picture of
got a vivid perceptual picture of
got a vivid perceptual picture of actually what’s going on and there are
actually what’s going on and there are
actually what’s going on and there are some interesting implications for
some interesting implications for
some interesting implications for thinking this way just as we can think
thinking this way just as we can think
thinking this way just as we can think of visual hallucinations for example in
of visual hallucinations for example in
of visual hallucinations for example in psychosis as resulting from the brain’s
psychosis as resulting from the brain’s
psychosis as resulting from the brain’s overactive predictions about visual
overactive predictions about visual
overactive predictions about visual sensory data we can also think about
sensory data we can also think about
sensory data we can also think about condition
condition
condition like anxiety depression and other
like anxiety depression and other
like anxiety depression and other psychiatric conditions as arising from
psychiatric conditions as arising from
psychiatric conditions as arising from the brain’s
the brain’s
the brain’s abnormal predictions about its ability
abnormal predictions about its ability
abnormal predictions about its ability to control or regulate its internal
to control or regulate its internal
to control or regulate its internal state thinking of things this way begins
state thinking of things this way begins
state thinking of things this way begins to take us from just treating the
to take us from just treating the
to take us from just treating the symptoms of psychiatric conditions to
symptoms of psychiatric conditions to
symptoms of psychiatric conditions to get towards getting closer to the
get towards getting closer to the
get towards getting closer to the underlying mechanisms now let’s bring
underlying mechanisms now let’s bring
underlying mechanisms now let’s bring all this together because more deeply I
all this together because more deeply I
all this together because more deeply I think these ideas help us see deep
think these ideas help us see deep
think these ideas help us see deep interconnections between life mind and
interconnections between life mind and
interconnections between life mind and self so taking things step by step right
self so taking things step by step right
self so taking things step by step right from the beginning from Helmholtz we saw
from the beginning from Helmholtz we saw
from the beginning from Helmholtz we saw that our perception of the world is a
that our perception of the world is a
that our perception of the world is a the brains best guess of the causes of
the brains best guess of the causes of
the brains best guess of the causes of sensory input it’s a it’s a fantasy that
sensory input it’s a it’s a fantasy that
sensory input it’s a it’s a fantasy that coincides with reality the rubber hand
coincides with reality the rubber hand
coincides with reality the rubber hand illusion shows that this applies not
illusion shows that this applies not
illusion shows that this applies not only to the world but also to ourselves
only to the world but also to ourselves
only to the world but also to ourselves we make our best guess about what is and
we make our best guess about what is and
we make our best guess about what is and what is not part of the body and when it
what is not part of the body and when it
what is not part of the body and when it comes to the body the sense of the body
comes to the body the sense of the body
comes to the body the sense of the body from within is perhaps the most
from within is perhaps the most
from within is perhaps the most important thing and affects how we
important thing and affects how we
important thing and affects how we experience what is in what is not our
experience what is in what is not our
experience what is in what is not our body finally predictions about our
body finally predictions about our
body finally predictions about our internal state and more to do with
internal state and more to do with
internal state and more to do with controlling and regulating it than
controlling and regulating it than
controlling and regulating it than knowing exactly what it’s like so let me
knowing exactly what it’s like so let me
knowing exactly what it’s like so let me finish now and to finish what all this
finish now and to finish what all this
finish now and to finish what all this together means is that our experience of
together means is that our experience of
together means is that our experience of being a conscious self is completely
being a conscious self is completely
being a conscious self is completely dependent on our flesh and blood beast
dependent on our flesh and blood beast
dependent on our flesh and blood beast machine nature on how our brain uses
machine nature on how our brain uses
machine nature on how our brain uses predictions to keep itself alive and
predictions to keep itself alive and
predictions to keep itself alive and secondly that the way we perceive the
secondly that the way we perceive the
secondly that the way we perceive the self is based on the same mechanisms by
self is based on the same mechanisms by
self is based on the same mechanisms by which we perceive the rest of the world
which we perceive the rest of the world
which we perceive the rest of the world so just as we can have visual illusions
so just as we can have visual illusions
so just as we can have visual illusions about the world we can also have
about the world we can also have
about the world we can also have illusions about how we experience being
illusions about how we experience being
illusions about how we experience being me and this brings me one last time to
me and this brings me one last time to
me and this brings me one last time to Descartes and Descartes of course is
Descartes and Descartes of course is
Descartes and Descartes of course is most famous for saying I think therefore
most famous for saying I think therefore
most famous for saying I think therefore I am and the story I’ve been telling you
I am and the story I’ve been telling you
I am and the story I’ve been telling you today I think suggests a slightly
today I think suggests a slightly
today I think suggests a slightly different way to finish which is that I
different way to finish which is that I
different way to finish which is that I predict myself therefore I am thank you
predict myself therefore I am thank you
predict myself therefore I am thank you you
”
Be First to Comment