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Review
. 2010 Jun;44(2):127-43.
doi: 10.1007/s12124-010-9117-8. Epub 2010 Mar 27.

Neurodynamics of mind: the arrow illusion of conscious intentionality as downward causation

Joaquín Barutta  1 , Ezequiel Gleichgerrcht, Carlos Cornejo, Agustín Ibáñez
Affiliations
Review

Neurodynamics of mind: the arrow illusion of conscious intentionality as downward causation

Joaquín Barutta et al. Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2010 Jun.

Erratum in

  • Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2010 Jun;44(2):126

Abstract

In cognitive neuroscience, the reissue of the notion of emergence and downward causation has been used as an interlevel model of mind-brain interactions from different perspectives. Within this perspective, intentionality has been interpreted as global to local determination (downward causation) on the neurophysiological level. Consciousness would act as the large-scale, global activity of the system that governs or constrains local interactions of neurons. This argument seems to solve several difficulties with regard to descriptions of consciousness on a neurophysiological and mental level. Nevertheless, the inconsistencies of this argument are shown, and a contextual and pragmatic explanation of the downward causation of consciousness is given.

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Comment in

  • Does consciousness exist?--In what sense?
    Allakhverdov VM, Gershkovich VA. Allakhverdov VM, et al. Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2010 Dec;44(4):340-7. doi: 10.1007/s12124-010-9133-8. Epub 2010 Jun 10. Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2010. PMID: 20535648

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