Page 281 - Read Online

van den Noort et al. Unconscious brain processing and interaction

is an interesting approach, this is only a small part of do not have the impression that our brain processing
the story because this theoretical framework does not is connected to and interacting with the environment
take into account that a large part of the brain’s energy surrounding us, this might be the case at the
is devoted to intrinsic neuronal signaling instead of unconscious level (e.g. think about the special role of
[17]
extrinsic demands. Here, worthy of important note the observer’s (un)conscious brain processing and
[10]

is that a miswiring of brain regions involved in the interactionin physics ). At the conscious level, we have
[6]
default mode has been suggested to play a significant the impression that we can only consciously interact
role in various neurological diseases, such as with the environment that surrounds us, for instance,
Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, etc. Last year, when we kick a ball, the ball will move. Humans
[10]
the existence of a so-called “extrinsic mode network” observe themselves as an individual information
was proposed. This network is considered to be processing entity not continuously interacting with
[11]
complementary to the default mode network; when one and not continuously connected to the information
of them is up-regulated, the other is down-regulated. around them (for instance, we do not notice this when
In this case, the extrinsic mode network would be we are asleep). Only the laws of classical mechanics
responsible in tasks whereas the default mode seem to apply to us, but this cannot be the reality;
network would be activated in task-absent situations. it must be a human illusion. Moreover, we tend to
[11]
The extrinsic mode network is conceptualized to be a overemphasize the importance of conscious human
[18]
cortical network for “extrinsic” neuronal activity while information processing because as a matter of fact,
the default mode network is considered to be a cortical like an iceberg where on average only 10% is visible
network for “intrinsic” neuronal activity. Despite the fact above the surface of the water, most of the information
that these frameworks are theoretically useful, they can processing during the day, and particularly during the
[19]
only explain one part of brain functioning because they night, is done unconsciously.
do not explain how the human brain (and organism)
is embedded in and connected to the world around To conclude, neuroscience is a relatively new research
it. In other words, a complete neurological theory of field, so many discoveries are still to be made.
human (un)conscious brain processing should always Moreover, further technical advancements are required
because the temporal resolution of the neuroimaging
be explainable and describable by the laws of physics techniques available today is way too slow to detect
[20]
because the human species is part of nature and is any kind of quantum processing in the human brain.
subject to nature’s underlying fundamental laws.
To date, we do not fully understand the underlying
physics of the brain; consequently, we are influencing
In other words, to date, the link between physics processes (for instance, when we use brain stimulation
and neuroscience has been missing, so now is the for clinical purposes in neuroscience) that we do not
time to find this missing link. Many attempts have completely understand. A better understanding of the
[6]
been made to build a bridge between physics and brain’s underlying processes is needed before those
neuroscience, but somehow the puzzle remains brain stimulation treatment techniques can be applied
incomplete. For instance, one of those attempts is without any risks. Finally, perhaps the time has
[21]
the so-called “Orchestrated objective reduction (Orch- come to re-think physics, and although classical
[22]
OR)” hypothesis, but proving the existence of and quantum mechanics have helped us to describe
[12]
quantum processing in microtubules turned out to be nature; in fact, what is really needed to take the next
difficult, which made neuroscientists skeptical about step is to consider the whole universe/nature as simple
[13]
this possible solution. In addition, many neuroscientists information in which the human brain/organism is
[23]
consider it to be a poor model of brain physiology. only a tiny information processing system embedded
[14]
Nevertheless, Penrose and Hameroff seem correct in in and interacting with that universe/nature. [6]
their assumption that a theory of everything should
[12]
[15]
not only fit within the laws of classical and quantum Acknowledgments
mechanics but also fit within the fundamental laws of The authors thank Prof. Bruce Rosen, Harvard Medical
neuroscience. Note that in fact, the human brain is a School, Cambridge, MA, USA. Our mutual work on brain
conglomeration of atomic constituents, and as a result, processing and neuroimaging was very inspiring and
it should be subject to the laws of physics. [16] eventually resulted in the writing of the present editorial.
However, perhaps the solution to this apparently Financial support and sponsorship
unsolvable problem is simple; it might have to do with Nil.
the way in which we describe nature and with the
difference in human “conscious” versus “unconscious” Conflicts of interest
brain processing. Although at the conscious level, we There are no conflicts of interest.
272 Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation ¦ Volume 3 ¦ December 26, 2016