X-Message-Number: 13039 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: some neuroscientific comments on consciousness Date: Mon, 3 Jan 100 00:31:01 +1100 (EST) About consciousness of lobotomy patients: There HAS been, by now, considerable thought and work by neuroscientists on the issue of just how consciousness may work. An interesting book by Damasio, THE FEELING OF WHAT HAPPENS, proposes (as do many neuroscientists) that consciousness is a matter of degree. Many animals are conscious, but their consciousness isnt the same kind as ours. This relates quite closely to lobotomies, since Damasio proposes that our frontal lobes are involved not in our consciousness as such but in our higher levels of consciousness. It would therefore be reasonable to say that lobotomy patients continue to be conscious, but only at the low level at which a dog or cat (say) is conscious. Since our consciousness is clearly something we want to keep, this subject has lots of bearing on its preservation. If you lose your frontal lobes due to accident or poor suspension, can your consciousness be FULLY revived? Ive discussed some of this work in PERIASTRON, but hardly all of it. Best and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13039