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Start Over Topic neuroscience Publication Year Range Last 10 years Publisher imprint academic
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1. The Wandering Mind: Where Imagination Meets Consciousness.

Author

Abraham, Anna

Subjects
*CONSCIOUSNESS, *EMOTIONS
Abstract

Daydreaming, or the seemingly aimless and inadvertent roaming of the mind, is a common experience that each of us undergoes several times a day during our waking lives. This fascinating phenomenon, which has been described as being akin to a 'private theatre is typically considered an altered state in relation to human consciousness as well as a central operation within the playground of the human imagination. This paper provides a selective overview of the types and functions of daydreaming as well as reflections on daydreaming as an altered state of consciousness and daydreaming as a facet of the imagination. In doing so, attention is drawn towards critical factors to consider when interpreting findings from the purview of each of these perspectives of study which points to the necessity to question implicit assumptions that are in place about this core human propensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2018

2. There is no free won't: The role definitions play

Subjects
neuroscience, SDG 16 - Peace, free will, Libet-style experiments, Justice and Strong Institutions
Abstract

In this paper, I analyse how neuroscientists come to the conclusion that the brain 'decides' what we will do. I do so by focusing on a recent study on free won't, from which it is concluded that the decision to veto is not free. First, I argue that assumptions about voluntariness and freedom that underlie this and other Libet-style experiments are more stringent than assumed by other critics (Mele, 2009; Schlosser, 2014). Second, I claim that these assumptions lead to an experimental setting in which the conclusion that the brain 'decides' is almost unavoidable. This is because the only decisions subjects are allowed to make in these experiments are spontaneous decisions that are not based on reasons. Even if the subjects acted for reasons or deliberated about what to do it would not be interpreted as such. Because of this, alternative definitions of voluntariness and freedom are necessary for neuroscientific experiments to provide a valuable contribution to the debate on free will.

Published
2017