Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist (MIT Press)

A fascinating exploration of the human brain that combines “the leading edge of consciousness science with surprisingly personal and philosophical reflection . . . shedding light on how scientists really think”—this is “science writing at its best” ( Times Higher Education ). In which a scientist searches for an empirical explanation for phenomenal experience, spurred by his instinctual belief that life is meaningful. What links conscious experience of pain, joy, color, and smell to bioelectrical activity in the brain? How can anything physical give rise to nonphysical, subjective, conscious states? Christof Koch has devoted much of his career to bridging the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the physics of the brain and phenomenal experience. This engaging book—part scientific overview, part memoir, part futurist speculation—describes Koch’s search for an empirical explanation for consciousness. Koch recounts not only the birth of the modern science of consciousness but also the subterranean motivation for his quest—his instinctual (if “romantic”) belief that life is meaningful. Koch describes his own groundbreaking work with Francis Crick in the 1990s and 2000s and the gradual emergence of consciousness (once considered a “fringy” subject) as a legitimate topic for scientific investigation. Present at this paradigm shift were Koch and a handful of colleagues, including Ned Block, David Chalmers, Stanislas Dehaene, Giulio Tononi, Wolf Singer, and others. Aiding and abetting it were new techniques to listen in on the activity of individual nerve cells, clinical studies, and brain-imaging technologies that allowed safe and noninvasive study of the human brain in action. Koch gives us stories from the front lines of modern research into the neurobiology of consciousness as well as his own reflections on a variety of topics, including the distinction between attention and awareness, the unconscious, how neurons respond to Homer Simpson, the physics and biology of free will, dogs, Der Ring des Nibelungen , sentient machines, the loss of his belief in a personal God, and sadness. All of them are signposts in the pursuit of his life's work—to uncover the roots of consciousness. What Links Conscious Experience Of Pain, Joy, Color, And Smell To Bioelectrical Activity In The Brain? How Can Anything Physical Give Rise To Nonphysical, Subjective, Conscious States? Christof Koch Has Devoted Much Of His Career To Bridging The Seemingly Unbridgeable Gap Between The Physics Of The Brain And Phenomenal Experience. This Engaging Book--part Scientific Overview, Part Memoir, Part Futurist Speculation--describes Koch's Search For An Empirical Explanation For Consciousness. Koch Recounts Not Only The Birth Of The Modern Science Of Consciousness But Also The Subterranean Motivation For His Quest--his Instinctual (if 'romantic') Belief That Life Is Meaningful. Koch Describes His Own Groundbreaking Work With Francis Crick In The 1990s And 2000s And The Gradual Emergence Of Consciousness (once Considered A 'fringy' Subject) As A Legitimate Topic For Scientific Investigation. Present At This Paradigm Shift Were Koch And A Handful Of Colleagues, Including Ned Block, David Chalmers, Stanislas Dehaene, Giulio Tononi, Wolf Singer, And Others. Aiding And Abetting It Were New Techniques To Listen In On The Activity Of Individual Nerve Cells, Clinical Studies, And Brain-imaging Technologies That Allowed Safe And Noninvasive Study Of The Human Brain In Action. Koch Gives Us Stories From The Front Lines Of Modern Research Into The Neurobiology Of Consciousness As Well As His Own Reflections On A Variety Of Topics, Including The Distinction Between Attention And Awareness, The Unconscious, How Neurons Respond To Homer Simpson, The Physics And Biology Of Free Will, Dogs, Der Ring Des Nibelungen, Sentient Machines, The Loss Of His Belief In A Personal God, And Sadness. All Of Them Are Signposts In The Pursuit Of His Life's Work--to Uncover The Roots Of Consciousness.--jacket. In Which I Introduce The Ancient Mind-body Problem, Explain Why I Am On A Quest To Use Reason And Empirical Inquiry To Solve It, Acquaint You With Francis Crick, Explain How He Relates To This Quest, Make A Confession, And End On A Sad Note -- In Which I Write About The Wellsprings Of My Inner Conflict Between Religion And Reason, Why I Grew Up Wanting To Be A Scientist, Why I Wear A Lapel Pin Of Professor Calculus, And How I Acquired A Second Mentor Late In Life -- In Which I Explain Why Consciousness Challenges The Scientific View Of The World, How Consciousness Can Be Investigated Empirically With Both Feet Firmly Planted On The Ground, Why Animals Share Consciousness With Humans, And Why Self-consciousness Is Not As Important As Many People Think It Is --^ In Which You Hear Tales Of Scientist-magicians That Make You Look But Not See, How They Track The Footprints Of Consciousness By Peering Into Your Skull, Why You Don't See With Your Eyes, And Why Attention And Consciousness Are Not The Same -- In Which You Learn From Neurologists And Neurosurgeons That Some Neurons Care A Great Deal About Celebrities, That Cutting The Cerebral Cortex In Two Does Not Reduce Consciousness By Half, That Color Is Leached From The World By The Loss Of A Small Cortical Region, And That The Destruction Of A Sugar Cube-sized Chunk Of Brain Stem Or Thalamic Tissue Leaves You Undead -- In Which I Defend Two Propositions That My Younger Self Found Nonsense -- You Are Unaware Of Most Of The Things That Go On In Your Head, And Zombie Agents Control Much Of Your Life, Even Though You Confidently Believe That You Are In Charge --^ In Which I Throw Caution To The Wind, Bring Up Free Will, Der Ring Des Nibelungen, And What Physics Says About Determinism, Explain The Impoverished Ability Of Your Mind To Choose, Show That Your Will Lags Behind Your Brain's Decision, And That Freedom Is Just Another Word For Feeling -- In Which I Argue That Consciousness Is A Fundamental Property Of Complex Things, Rhapsodize About Integrated Information Theory, How It Explains Many Puzzling Facts About Consciousness And Provides A Blueprint For Building Sentient Machines -- In Which I Outline An Electromagnetic Gadget To Measure Consciousness, Describe Efforts To Harness The Power Of Genetic Engineering To Track Consciousness In Mice, And Find Myself Building Cortical Observatories --^ In Which I Muse About Final Matters Considered Off-limits To Polite Scientific Discourse: To Wit, The Relationship Between Science And Religion, The Existence Of God, Whether This God Can Intervene In The Universe, The Death Of My Mentor, And My Recent Tribulations. Christof Koch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 12 Chapter 1: In which I introduce the ancient mind–body problem... 14 Chapter 2: In which I write about the wellsprings of my inner conflict between religion and reason... 24 A Carefree Childhood as a Budding Scientist 25 Studying the Biophysics of Nerve Cells 28 Caltech, Teaching, Research, and the Brain Viewed by a Physicist 30 Once More unto the Breach of Consciousness 32 Chapter 3: In which I explain why consciousness challenges the scientific view of the world... 36 Qualia and the Natural World 40 What Is the Function of Consciousness? 42 The Difficulty of Defining Consciousness 45 On the Consciousness of Animals 47 On the Consciousness of Self 49 Chapter 4: In which you hear tales of scientist-magicians that make you look but not see... 54 Finding Consciousness in the Brain 54 Hiding Objects in Plain Sight 58 Not all Neurons Participate in Consciousness 61 Neurons in Higher Regions of Neocortex Are Closely Allied to Consciousness 65 Attending to Something, yet not Seeing It 68 Chapter 5: In which you learn from neurologists andneurosurgeons that some neurons care a great deal about celebrities... 72 Small Chunks of Gray Matter Mediate Specific Content of Consciousness 72 Concept Neurons Encode Homer Simpson and Jennifer Aniston 75 Consciousness Can Flee Permanently, Leaving a Zombie Behind 83 Chapter 6: In which I defend two propositions that my younger self found nonsense... 88 Zombies in the Brain 91 The Social Unconscious 95 What Does the Pervasive Influence of the Unconscious Imply for My Quest? 101 Chapter 7: In which I throw caution to the wind, bring up free will, Der Ring des Nibelungen... 104 Strong versus Pragmatic Shades of Freedom 105 Classical Physics and Determinism: The Clockwork Universe 108 The Demise of the Clockwork Universe 111 The Impoverished Freedom of the Mind to Realize One Quantum Event over Another 115 Will as an Afterthought to Action 118 Agency, or the Conscious Experience of Will 119 Taking Stock of the Situation 123 Chapter 8: In which I argue that consciousness is a fundamental property of complex things... 126 Dogs, or Does Consciousness Emerge from the Brain? 128 Consciousness Is Immanent in Complexity 132 Consciousness and Information Theory 134 The Theory of Integrated Information 138 Panpsychism and Teilhard de Chardin 144 A Humbling Parting Thought 147 Chapter 9: In which I outline an electromagnetic gadget to measure consciousness... 150 A Consciousness-Meter for the Grievously Injured 151 Tracking the Footprint of Consciousness Using Optogenetics 153 Onto New Horizons 158 Chapter 10: In which I muse about final matters considered off-limits to polite scientific discourse: to wit... 162 Dualism, the Soul, and Science 162 Religion, Reason, and Francis Crick 166 Deism, or God as the Divine Architect 167 Theism, or God as the Interventionist 169 Can Revelation and Scripture Be Helpful? 171 Et in Arcadia Ego 174 Nailing My Colors to the Mast 178 Notes 180 References 186 Index 192 "What links conscious experience of pain, joy, color, and smell to bioelectrical activity in the brain? How can anything physical give rise to nonphysical, subjective, conscious states? Christof Koch has devoted much of his career to bridging the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the physics of the brain and phenomenal experience. This engaging book--part scientific overview, part memoir, part futurist speculation--describes Koch's search for an empirical explanation for consciousness. Koch recounts not only the birth of the modern science of consciousness but also the subterranean motivation for his quest--his instinctual (if 'romantic') belief that life is meaningful. Koch describes his own groundbreaking work with Francis Crick in the 1990s and 2000s and the gradual emergence of consciousness (once considered a 'fringy' subject) as a legitimate topic for scientific investigation. Present at this paradigm shift were Koch and a handful of colleagues, including Ned Block, David Chalmers, Stanislas Dehaene, Giulio Tononi, Wolf Singer, and others. Aiding and abetting it were new techniques to listen in on the activity of individual nerve cells, clinical studies, and brain-imaging technologies that allowed safe and noninvasive study of the human brain in action. Koch gives us stories from the front lines of modern research into the neurobiology of consciousness as well as his own reflections on a variety of topics, including the distinction between attention and awareness, the unconscious, how neurons respond to Homer Simpson, the physics and biology of free will, dogs, Der Ring des Nibelungen, sentient machines, the loss of his belief in a personal God, and sadness. All of them are signposts in the pursuit of his life's work--to uncover the roots of consciousness."--Résumé de l'éditeur What links conscious experience of pain, joy, color, and smell to bioelectrical activity in the brain? How can anything physical give rise to nonphysical, subjective, conscious states? Christof Koch has devoted much of his career to bridging the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the physics of the brain and phenomenal experience. This engaging book -- part scientific overview, part memoir, part futurist speculation -- describes Koch's search for an empirical explanation for consciousness. Koch recounts not only the birth of the modern science of consciousness but also the subterranean motivation for his quest -- his instinctual (if "romantic") belief that life is meaningful. Koch describes his own groundbreaking work with Francis Crick in the 1990s and 2000s and the gradual emergence of consciousness (once considered a "fringy" subject) as a legitimate topic for scientific investigation. Present at this paradigm shift were Koch and a handful of colleagues, including Ned Block, David Chalmers, Stanislas Dehaene, Giulio Tononi, Wolf Singer, and others. Aiding and abetting it were new techniques to listen in on the activity of individual nerve cells, clinical studies, and brain-imaging technologies that allowed safe and noninvasive study of the human brain in action. Koch gives us stories from the front lines of modern research into the neurobiology of consciousness as well as his own reflections on a variety of topics, including the distinction between attention and awareness, the unconscious, how neurons respond to Homer Simpson, the physics and biology of free will, dogs, __Der Ring des Nibelungen__, sentient machines, the loss of his belief in a personal God, and sadness. All of them are signposts in the pursuit of his life's work -- to uncover the roots of consciousness.