Neuroscientific Basis and Purpose of Self, Mind, Consciousness and Emotion

Preface

Acknowledgment

Self, Mind and Consciousness

What is Myself?

Definitions of Consciousness

Wakefulness

Awareness

Qualia

Self-Recognition and Metacognition

Theory of Mind

Hard Problem

Neuronal Correlates of Consciousness (NCC)

Unconscious Processes

Summary and Conclusion

References

The Purpose of Life and the Role of the Brain

What is Life?

The Survival of an Individual and a Species

Various Ways of Keeping a Species

Self, Offsprings and Groups

Self-Interest and Altruism

Recognition of Environment and Selection of Action

Reflex, Instinctive and Voluntary Actions

Emergence of The Consciousness and The Mind

Summary and Conclusion

References

Neurons and Synapses

Elementary Units of The Nervous System

Electrical Information Transmission Using Membrane Potential

Ionic Channels and Pumps

Synaptic Transmission

Inhibitory Synapses

Transmitters and Receptors

Slow Modulation of Synaptic Functions and Neuronal Activities

Intracellular Signaling Cascade

Synaptic Plasticity

The Control of Transcription and Long-Term Modification of Neuronal Circuits

Summary and Conclusion

References 

The Functions of Neuronal Circuits: Sensory Processing and Motor Control

Peripheral and Central Nervous Systems

The Development of The Brain and The Spinal Cord

Simple Neuronal Pathways for Reflex

Sensation and Perception

The Peripheral Visual System

The Central Visual System

The Auditory System

The Somatosensory System

The Olfactory System

The Taste System

The Lower Motor Control System

Inhibitory Neuronal Pathways

The Higher Motor Control System

Homeostatic Regulation of Body States

Stress Response

Summary and Conclusion

References

The Neuronal Bases of Higher Brain Functions

Higher Brain Functions: Perception, Recognition, Evaluation, Decision Making and Planning

Neuronal Coding

Binding Problem in Recognition

Conceptualization and Words

Sequential and Parallel Information Processing

Working Memory

Rhythm

Loops

Attention

Weighing of Information

Relationship among Attention, Perception, Recognition, Binding and Working Memory

Conflict in Perception and/or Recognition

Top-down and Bottom-up Signals

Mirror Neurons

Decision Making and Planning

Summary and Conclusion

References 

Learning and Memory

Three Types of Learning

Self-Organization

Critical Period and Experience-Dependent Maturation of Neuronal Circuits

Supervised Learning

Cerebellum and Motor Learning

Reinforcement Learning

Bayesian Estimation

Efficient Learning vs Flexibility

Born and Raised

Declarative and Non-declarative Memory

Engram

Summary and Conclusion

References

A Comparison of The Brain and A Computer System

Computer System and Artificial Intelligence

Similarities of the Brain and a Computer

Differences between the Brain and a Computer

Diverse and Complicated Neuronal Circuits

Efficient Information Processing with Slow Elements in The Brain

Contrast Enhancement

Filling-in

Illusion

Information Transmissions with Line Connections and with Spreading Factors

Challenge for a Change by the Brain

The Significance of Diversity for The Survival of The Species

Singularity

Summary and Conclusion

References 

Emotions and Feelings

What are Emotions and Feelings?

Fear and Anxiety

Anger and Aggression

Disgust and Avoidance

Sadness and Regret

Hate

Pain

Pleasure and Reward

Love and Attachment

Empathy, Sympathy and Compassion

Envy and Schadenfreude

Startle and Surprise

Neuronal Circuits for Emotions

Limbic Circuit

Insular Cortex

Cingulate Cortex

Prefrontal Cortices

Amygdala

The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST)

Basal Ganglia

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Midbrain

Hippocampus

Summary and Conclusion

References 

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulator Molecules

Dopamine

Norepinephrine

Serotonin

Histamine

Acetylcholine

Enkephalin, Dynorphin and Endorphin

Oxytocin

Cannabinoids

Steroids

Nitric Oxide

Drugs of Abuse and Addiction

Physical Neuromodulation

Summary and Conclusion

References  

Sleep and Dream

Evolutional Origin and Purposes of Sleep

Necessity of Sleep and Variation of Sleep Time

Circadian Rhythm

Levels of Sleep and Brain Waves (Electroencephalogram)

REM Sleep

Neuronal Mechanisms of Sleep Regulation

Different Types of Dreams and Their Roles

Neural Correlates of Dreams

Self and Consciousness in Dreams

Summary and Conclusion

References

Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Brain Disorders

Schizophrenia

Dissociative Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders

Genetic Variations Related to Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Depression

Anxiety Disorders

Bipolar Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

Psychopathy

Epilepsy

Excitation and Inhibition Balance

Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease

Huntington’s Disease

Prion Disease

Summary and Conclusion

References

Short-Term and Long-Term Merits and Demerits for Individuals, Groups and Species

Conflicts of Short-Term and Long-Term Merits and Demerits

Conflicts of Merits and Demerits Between Individuals, Groups and/or Societies

Decision Making in Conflicting Conditions and Development of Metacognition

Game Theory

Roles of Self-Centered Emotions in Decision Making

Size of The World and Human Power

Past Experience and Education

The Emergence of Distinctive Rules in Higher Order Systems

Purposes and Means

Judgement, Prediction and Decision Based on Facts, Reasoning, Opinion, Belief, Hope and/or Emotions

Facts

Various Ways of Reasoning

Opinion, Belief, Hope and Emotions

How We Should Judge and Decide

Summary and Conclusion

References

Reconsideration of Self, Mind and Consciousness

What is The Brain for, and What is Consciousness?

Consciousness of AI

Self, Mind and Consciousness in Different States

Objective Centers of Metacognition

Unity of Consciousness and Self

Summary and Conclusion

References

Concluding Remarks

Aims of This Book

Main Conclusions

Critical Remarks on Main Conclusions

Unresolved Questions and Future Problems

Final Message to Readers

Index

Biography

Tomoo Hirano earned both his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo. In 1997, he was appointed as a professor in Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, where he conducted research on synapse formation, synaptic function, synaptic plasticity, and mechanisms of motor learning in the cerebellum. From 2017 to 2019, Dr. Hirano served as the dean of the Graduate School of Science, and he is now a professor emeritus at Kyoto University.