Essay on Comparative
Consciousness was traditionally a subject to the scientific study which raised a lot of questions and debates among scientists. As a result, a number of theories interpreting the concept of consciousness and explaining this concept emerged. In this regard, the cognitive theory is one of the oldest theories, while the neuroscience theories is one of the relatively new theories which, though, has already gained the approval of many scientists working on the problem of consciousness and its explanation. The neuroscience model of consciousness is quite different from that of the cognitive model and more plausible one because the neuroscience theory gives the broader and more objective view on the concept of consciousness explaining not its essence but also the mechanism of its functioning and operations.
Cognitive theory develops the concept of the conscious global content which is globally available for diverse cognitive processes, including attention, evaluation, memory, and verbal report (Pinker, 1999). In fact, the cognitive theory stands on the ground of learning as the key activity. As the individual learns, he/she develops his/her consciousness. Individuals acquire different social norms and values in the course of their cognitive development that naturally affect their consciousness. In fact, the cognitive theory associates consciousness with integrative cognitive processes, such as attention, decision making, and action selection (Pinker, 1999). Therefore, the cognitive theory tends to interpret the concept of consciousness as a learned or acquired entity since the consciousness of individual is shaped through learning.
In this regard, the neurological model of consciousness is quite different from the cognitive model of consciousness. In contrast to the cognitive model, the neurological model of consciousness implies that the individual sense of self arises from the individual’s need to map relations between self and others. In such a way, the development of the consciousness implies the development of neurological connections on the ground of individual’s experience. As an individual learns certain information and certain forms of behavior, he/she perceives them through neurons that lead to the development of strong connections and associations that affect the perception of the surrounding world by the individual. For instance, if an individual has burned his/her finger, when he/she touched a heated dish, he/she would be aware of the danger of repeating this action. At the higher level of consciousness, the same mechanism comes into play. If an individual develops negative associations with certain issues in the surrounding world, he/she tends to avoid them. For instance, a woman suffering a rape is likely to avoid close communication with men or be anxious of men.
One of the proponents of the neurological model of consciousness, Damasio, holds the premise that there is a stream of consciousness that utilizes every part of the brain (Damasio, 141). According to Damasio, consciousness is linked to emotion, to human feelings for the images they perceive (Damasio, 152) Damasio (147) distinguishes several kinds of consciousness, including proto-self, core consciousness, and extended consciousness. The proto-self exists in the mind’s constant monitoring of the body’s state, of which individuals are unaware (Damasio, 149). The core consciousness perceives the world 500 milliseconds after the fact (Damasio, 150). The extended consciousness is the consciousness of memory, reason and language (Damasio, 151).
According to neuroscience model, consciousness exists independently of language, reason or memory. This is the key difference of the neuroscience model from the cognitive one because the latter relies heavily on language, reason and memory as elements contributing to the development of consciousness of individuals. Moreover, the cognitive model stresses that consciousness is closely intertwined with cognitive processes, including memory, learning and others.
Furthermore, Damasio (205) insists that emotion and consciousness tend to be present or absent together. Such a concept is the characteristic of the neuroscience model of consciousness, which is absolutely unacceptable for the cognitive model of consciousness. In contrast to the neuroscience model, the cognitive model implies that emotions and emotions are closely intertwined and emotions evoke consciousness, but the absence of emotions does not necessarily mean the absence of consciousness.
On analyzing both serious, the neuroscience model of consciousness is more preferable because it provides deeper and more valid explanation of consciousness. For instance, on comparing the neuroscience concept of consciousness to that of the cognitive theory, the latter admits that consciousness is closely intertwined to the memory. Therefore, the amnesic memory loss implies the loss of consciousness. However, an individual has consciousness even if he/she has memory troubles. In addition, the neuroscience model stresses the possibility of presence and absence of emotions and consciousness, while the cognitive model denies them. However, the absence of emotions implies the absence of consciousness, for instance, in patients, who are in coma.
Thus, the cognitive and neuroscience models of consciousness are quite different. On the one hand, the cognitive model views consciousness as being closely intertwined with learning, memory and reason. On the other hand, the neuroscience model holds the premise that consciousness is prior to reason and creativity, while memory and learning are not closely intertwined to consciousness. Hence, the analysis of both models shows that the neuroscience model is more valid and reliable in scientific terms.
