Consciousness Illustrated
by Reginald Firehammer
The two figures below illustrate the functional relationships between the various aspects of consciousness, volition, and the physiological aspects of the brain and behavior. There is a short description following each of the figures which provides a brief overview of the functions of consciousness, but a full understanding of their meaning and significance is probably not possible without reference to the individual posts to this consciousness thread.
High Level Graphical View of Consciousness
The figure illustrates the sources for the content of consciousness, including the external nervous system, by which we are aware of the “external world,” the internal nervous system, by which we are aware of the states of our bodies, memory, the emotions, something I call, “random to habituated behavior,” (RHB) and volition. The obvious sources of consciousness are the external and internal nervous systems and memory. Some explanation is required for the others.
The emotions, RHB, and volition are all illustrated “surrounded” by consciousness. These are not part of consciousness, but are illustrated that way to indicate we are always conscious of them. The same color is used for both the emotions and RHB, because both are automatic responses to the content of consciousness.
“Random to habituated behavior” is a new concept in the description of consciousness that will be fully explained when I start the volition thread. The function of RHB is to initiate action—the action of storing perceptual data in memory or overt action. RHB cannot initiate action on its own, however, without volition. RHB initiates action as a “suggestion”which volition either “allows” or “rejects.” In fact, the only action that volition is capable of is assenting to or rejecting the automatic response to the content of consciousness which is the RHB attempt to prompt an action.
In the early stages of development, RHB’s attempt to cause action is more or less random and only becomes organized as volition allows or disallows action, and action in response to the content of consciousness becomes habituated. This process will be described more fully under the volition thread.
The importance of this figure is that it illustrates that consciousness includes all that can be known about the external world and internal states through the external and internal aspects of the nervous system, the emotions, recalled perceptual data from memory, the present action attempted/suggested by RHB, and volition.
Detailed Block View of Consciousness
External Nervous System—continuous consciousness of the external world we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
Internal Nervous System—continuous consciousness of the internal state of our bodies, including the physical appetites, comfort/discomfort, and the sense of balance. The emotions are also provided by the internal nervous system, but described separately under (15).
The Emotions—(like RHB) are automatic physiological reactions to the content of consciousness.
“Response to Consciousness”—Except for the emotions, all other behavior in response to consciousness is initiated in RHB, including what is stored in memory and overt action. RHB is also an automatic physiological reaction to the content of consciousness. Conceptually, it is all the random impulses to action and storage in memory that become organized and habituated through “learning.” There is no specific physiological organ that is RHB, it is a concept for “impulse to action” in response to whatever is currently in consciousness and involves many different cerebral and physiological functions. Except for some memory storage, which is always direct (5) RHB impulses are not acted on unless allowed by volition.
Stored In Memory—what will or will not be stored in memory is determined by the habituated patterns of RHB, and volition. Some immediate short term storage in memory is always direct and non-volitional.
Volitionally Stored in Memory—includes all that is intentionally learned, memorized, or otherwise stored in memory by intention.
RHB Motivation to Action—In human beings, between consciousness and overt, there are the learned and habituated behaviors that react to whatever one is conscious of, but these are only the “impulse to act” that only results in action if volition allows it.
Overt Action—is any chosen physical action, that is, volitionally allowed action prompted by RHB.
Conscious Content Requiring Attention—is actually the reaction of RHB to the content of consciousness that results in conscious attention.
Conscious Attention—is the RHB habituated impulse to attention in consciousness volitionally allowed. The darker area in consciousness represents those aspects of consciousness consciously attended to.
Recalled from Memory—is perceptual data available to RHB in response to the current content of consciousness.
Memory percepts—is perceptual data that RHB habituated behavior recalls from memory and presents to consciousness in response to the present content of consciousness. Notice that memory recall is not directly determined by volition (but can be indirectly).
Consciousness of Volition—indicates the fact we are conscious of volition’s allowing or preventing action of RHB.
Consciousness of RHB—indicates the fact we are conscious of the reaction of RHB to the content of consciousness.
Consciousness of Emotions—indicates the fact we are conscious of our emotions. Perception of the emotions is made available to consciousness by means of the same internal nervous system by which we are aware of other internal states (2).