THOUGHT QUESTIONS

Could a sufficiently large and complex computer ever be programmed to be aware of itself? Suppose that someone someday claims to have done just that. What kind of evidence would you need to prove or disprove this claim?
Is consciousness found in animals other than humans? Is the ability of some animals to communicate with each other and with humans evidence for at least some form of awareness of self and others?
Clearly, the left hemisphere of a person with a split brain is conscious of the information it receives and of its own thoughts. It is not conscious of the mental processes of the right hemisphere. But is it possible that the right hemisphere is conscious too, but is just unable to talk to us? How could we possibly find out whether it is? Do you see some similarities between this issue and the one raised in the first question?

KEY CONCEPTS

Behavioral neuroscientists believe that the mind is a function performed by the brain.
The study of human brain functions has helped us gain some insight into the nature of human consciousness, which appears to be related to the language functions of the brain (i.e. the effects of the split brain operation).

	Created by Lorann Kearney almost 9 years ago

Notes for Chapter 1 of Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience