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Conflicts everywhere! Perceptions, actions, and cognition all entail memory and reflect conflict
Jerome S Jordan1, David W Vinson2
1Department of Psychology,Illinois State University,Normal,IL 61790-4620jsjorda@ilstu.eduhttps://about.illinoisstate.edu/jsjorda.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|March 31, 2017
Summary
Consciousness selects which actions are performed via muscles. This commentary agrees and extends this idea, proposing consciousness also selects cognitive options.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- The function of consciousness is a central question in neuroscience and philosophy.
- Morsella et al. proposed consciousness evolved to select among competing motor actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comment on Morsella et al.'s theory regarding the function of consciousness.
- To extend the proposed function of consciousness to include cognitive processes.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical commentary and theoretical analysis.
- First-person perspective integration.
Main Results:
- Agreement with Morsella et al.'s assertion on consciousness's role in motor selection.
- Proposal that consciousness also functions in selecting cognitive options.
Conclusions:
- Consciousness plays a critical role in selecting both motor outputs and cognitive processes.
- The option-selection function of consciousness is a unifying concept across action and cognition.