Is Consciousness Reversible
I made this post to document an interesting question, after reading one on cause and effect at Sunil’s blog. This thought originates while reading The End of Time by Julian Barbour, where it is briefed in a page.
Let us assume we could theorize that the activity of the human brain could be correlated to the physical states of its various parts. By physical states we mean how in an instant various parts (made of physical entities like cells or its fundamental constituents, atoms) move or change in physical space and/or undergo chemical changes, resulting in flow of chemicals and electric current.
This means, in way, all of these changes and motion are measurable.
So, for instance, if these changes in the brain ‘states’ are because of some phenomenon outside of the brain, which is perceived by our body (say, we ‘see’ a dancer performing), then it means, we could correlate the changes in the external world to the corresponding changes in the brain (physical) states.
The interesting question that we have then is, do these physical states of the brain (atoms) obey Newton’s Laws? In other words, are these physical state changes of the brain reversible?
The challenge to answer this question arises from the trait of the brain that we believe in. That the ‘consciousness’ that we are, perceives the direction of Time and distinguishes the future from the past. That is, even in the sole event of a dancer performing, as individual human beings, we seem to have a grasp of what is past and how it is differentiable from the future. That is, consciousness seems to be ‘irreversible’.
However, if this ‘consciousness’ is the result of changes in the physical states of physical entities that make the Brain (atoms), then if they are to be controlled by Newton’s Laws, they are perfectly reversible in Time. They shouldn’t have a sense of Time.
Or Cause and Effect!
The crux of the issue, as Julian writes in his book, lies in the question
How does brute inanimate matter become conscious, or rather, self-conscious?
No one seems to know, yet. But I shall relate of what I understand of what Julian thinks of this issue, in a future post.
Meanwhile, enjoy the (ir)reversibility.
Tags: brain, irreversibility, reversible process, science, time, time’s arrow
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The question may not arise if you see brain as a self organizing system with a non linerar behaviour than a Newtonian classical system of deterministic physical state. Well, you may get experts to answer it better. But it is my first reaction (aka non thought out reaction while doing multitasking
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ok….now start writing your future post of what Julian thinks.
The cause and effect jump here is pretty big……too many dots in between need to be filled.
Actually I was right in my reaction. You cannot model brain as a simple newtonian system of brain states. It is a self organizing system ==> Non linear system where symmetry is broken ==> The question of reversibility in time doesn’t arise.
Check out the following article to learn about how brain can be modelled.
http://www.schuelers.com/chaos/chaos8.htm
I hope this is your question!!
Krish: Thanks for the link. Yes, if we model the brain as a self organizing system, the reversibility of consciousness may not arise. But it could still allow the concept of ‘no dynamic time’, the idea proposed by this Julian Barbour…I shall get back with more, once I understand more of this concept…
Sunil: yes, I shall post more soon…