Thursday, June 14, 2012

Occupying Consciousness: Spiritual Activism 2.0


Posted: 06/07/2012 12:54 pm
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The Evolver Social Movement has just released a free e-book anthology examining the unprecedented spiritual activism of the Occupy Movement. Featuring writers like media guru Doug Rushkoff, Yale anthropology associate professor David Graeber, "Fifth Sacred Thing" author Starhawk and British comedian/actor Russell Brand, "OCCUPY CONSCIOUSNESS: Essays on the Global Insurrection" explores the culture, mythology, possibilities and spiritual awakening of this nascent movement. The book, edited by my Evolver colleague and bestselling "2012" author Daniel Pinchbeck and Reality Sandwich Associate Editor Mitch Mignano, covers topics ranging from "Occupying Gaia" to interfaith coalition building, "Metta-tations for the 100 Percent" to the ongoing evolution of the mediasphere, sacred economics to strategic nonviolent direct action.
According to Pinchbeck, "These pieces offer an essential perspective on the true significance of Occupy -- not a protest movement essentially, but a harbinger of a new way of being."
HuffPost readers can download the free e-book at Reality Sandwich.
"Is this movement's implicit goal to re-engage our humanity? To reach beyond the political, the national and other illusory, temporary concepts and into our true, spiritual nature?" --Russell Brand
"Direct action is, ultimately, the defiant insistence on acting as if one is already free." --David Graeber.
"The transition we are called to make goes far beyond incremental policy changes within the current system, positive though such changes might be. We are called to re- imagine and re-create our world around fundamentally new organizing principles. The old world is essentially on life support in any case. Our choice really is to participate consciously in the birth of the new era, or to have it forcibly and painfully delivered to us." --David Nicol
This anthology is available as a free gift from the Evolver Social Movement. In exchange, we ask that you consider making a contribution to our non-profit initiative, which organizes 40+ local chapters transforming their communities.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Conscious perception is a matter of global neural networks


June 13, 2012 in Neuroscience
Conscious perception is a matter of global neural networks
Neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex represent the content of consciousness. The red trace depicts neural activity (neuronal discharges) in the lateral prefrontal cortex when a stimulus is consciously perceived for 1 second while the green trace depicts neural activity when the same stimulus is suppressed from awareness. Credit: MPI for Biological Cybernetics
(Medical Xpress) -- Consciousness is a selective process that allows only a part of the sensory input to reach awareness. But up to today it has yet to be clarified which areas of the brain are responsible for the content of conscious perception. Theofanis Panagiotaropoulos and his colleagues - researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen and University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona - have now discovered that the content of consciousness is not localized in a unique cortical area, but is most likely an emergent property of global networks of neuronal populations.
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The question which parts of the brain are responsible for the things that reach our awareness is one of the main puzzles in neurobiology today. Previous research on the brains of primates has shown that neurons in primary and secondary cortices provide poor representation of visual consciousness. In contrast, the neurons in the temporal lobe seem to reliably reflect the actual of a visual stimulus. These findings indicated that not all parts of the brain are responsible for the content of conscious awareness. Nevertheless, the question whether only one of the brain's areas is responsible for the content of perception or whether more regions are involved in the process has so far remained unanswered.
The Max Planck scientists in Tübingen led by Nikos Logothetis have now addressed this issue using electrophysiological methods to monitor the in the lateral prefrontal cortex of macaque monkeys during ambiguous visual stimulation. The visual stimuli used allow for multiple perceptual interpretations, even though the actual input remained the same. In doing so, Panagiotaropoulos and his team were able to show that the electrical activity monitored in the lateral prefrontal cortex correlates with what the macaque monkeys actually perceive.
They thus concluded that  is not only reliably reflected in the temporal lobe, but also in the lateral prefrontal cortex of primates. The results depict that the neuronal correlates of  are embedded in this area, which has a direct connection to premotor and motor areas of the brain, and is therefore able to directly affect motor output. These findings support the “frontal lobe hypothesis” of conscious visual perception established in 1995 by the researchers Crick (the co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule) and Koch that awareness is related to neural activity with directaccess to the planning stages of the brain.
The results support this theory in so far as they show that the lateral prefrontal cortex is involved in the process of visual awareness. However, the fact that neural activity in two different cortical areas reflects conscious perception shows that the decision which  reaches our awareness is most likely not made in a unique cortical area but, rather, that a global network of neurons from different areas of the brain is responsible for it. “Our results therefore broaden the hypothesis and create new questions regarding the cortical mechanisms of visual awareness”, Panagiotaropoulos explains. In the near future the group is going to record the electrical activity in both regions simultaneously.
By this they will try to find out which of the two areas is activated first and draw conclusions on how the two areas interact with each other during conscious perception. This may lead to a better understanding of why only certain things reach our  and others remain suppressed.
More information: Theofanis I. Panagiotaropoulos, et al, Visual Consciousness in the Lateral Prefrontal Cortex, Neuron, Volume 74, Issue 5, 924-935, June 7th, 2012, 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.04.013
Journal reference: Neuron  
Provided by Max Planck Society  
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Monday, June 11, 2012

When Sleeping Turns Deadly and Other Strange Tales fromScientific American MIND


By Ingrid Wickelgren | June 11, 2012 |  

The July/August issue of Scientific American Mind made its debut online late last week. Here I divulge some of the more surprising and useful lessons from its pages.
Dozing Dangerously
Sleepwalking is one of the strangest phenomena I have ever witnessed. Despite its name, it doesn’t resemble any other kind of sleep I’ve seen. To me, it appears as if an odd imposter has temporarily inhabited the body of someone I know. The person’s eyes are open. He or she gets up, strolls or scampers around, and can hug me or grab a drinking glass. He may even talk to me. The slumbering human really seems awake—until it dawns on me that his behavior is distinctly erratic. The person may respond to me—say, take a drink when I give him a glass of juice—but in an odd manner, say, gulping the liquid as if in a huge hurry. His eyes might open wide as if he’s panic-stricken, but the cause of the panic is nowhere to be seen. And he may do nonsensical things such as pouring liquid from a cup into the trashcan.
In 1846, Albert Tirrell was acquitted of the murder of Maria Bickford because he was sleepwalking. By National Police Gazette via Wikimedia Commons.
When a person is sleepwalking, as we report in the current issue of the magazine, the brain is kind of half awake. Some parts, those involved in talking and walking, are operational. But other parts, those involved in reasoning and self-control, are pretty much in lala land, explaining why the person’s actions make no sense. Sleepwalking is apparently common (and usually benign) in children. But in some adults it turns violent (see “Are Sleepwalking Killers Conscious?” by Francesca Siclari, Guilio Tononi and Claudio Bassetti). In rare cases, sleepwalkers have committed murder, and at least half of those with sleep disorders exhibit less serious forms of unintentional violence. In some instances, the murderous sleeper has been acquitted (see illustration). But questions of culpability remain. Was it a strange imposter’s fault? Probably, but the loss of control is frightening for all concerned.
On the plus side, researchers are uncovering the biological roots of such odd actions in hopes of developing treatments. In the process, they are also gleaning clues to the origins of consciousness.
Microbial Madness
Speaking of brains subverted by demons, consider the influence of gut microbes. One parasite co-opts the intentions of mice such that they are drawn to cats, which, of course, then consume the brainwashed rodents (see “Microbes Manipulate Your Mind,” by Moheb Costandi). In humans, gut microbes can subtly change our moods and emotional states. The “brains” in our guts—a combination of 500 microorganisms that seems to vary from one person to the next—may even explain differences between people in personality as well as disparities between us in symptoms of psychiatric illnesses.
Notably, our bodies’ microbial inhabitants might make us more or less able to withstand stress. Colicky babies, we report, seem to have a less diverse array of germs in their gut, and seem to be predisposed to stress later on. But as adults, we might also be able to deliberately colonize ourselves for better mental health. Early data suggest that probiotics might be able to quell anxiety. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I am going to make a point of indulging in live-culture yogurt, and not just for the calcium. Taking stress down a notch, after all, can improve productivity.
Inspiring Ingenuity
Research unraveling the roots of creativity might be even more beneficial to my performance, however. An article in this issue suggests that creativity is not unique to unusually gifted individuals such as Einstein, Picasso or Mozart (see “Put Your Creative Brain to Work,” by Evangelia G. Chrysikou). Instead, its roots lie in mental processes such as decision making, language and memory that all of us possess. In the first stage of the creative process, the generation of ideas, it is best to keep an open mind. In the brain, this translates into lower activity in the cognitive control regions of the prefrontal cortex. But later in the process, when you have to evaluate your options, the brain’s cognitive filter needs to go online again. So different brain states are optimal for different parts of a creative endeavor.
guy doing one handed handstand in front of software mural
Taking a break at the office can spur creativity. Courtesy of Robert Gaal via Flickr.
Putting yourself into an innovative mindset can be as simple as doing something backwards–or engaging in any exercise that shakes up your typical way of thinking. Prepare a sandwich by using the bread to scoop up the insides (or some other crazy method). Think of nonstandard uses for a roll of toilet paper. (Can its cardboard innards be used to protect something?) Describe an object in terms of its parts rather than its use. My tape dispenser at the office is a piece of hard plastic that curves up at the ends with a hole in the middle that can accommodate a plastic circular piece that spins around. It also has a serrated metal piece at one end. Having revised my definition of that object, I should be able to generate more creative thoughts about other things.
If I am still short on ideas, I can try enlisting my subconscious. To do that, I need to put my conscious mind out of commission by not thinking about the problem. Instead, I can sleep on it, let my mind wander or just do something completely different for a while.
If I really want to break boundaries, I will also need to do something that is hard for most people: let go of my fear. Being brave enough to dismiss safe and proven paths or solutions is a basic requirement for innovation. Those of us who trod down well-worn avenues may find success in our own limited way. But the folks willing to whack a trail through the bush in uncharted territory are the ones with a real chance at reinventing the world.
Ingrid WickelgrenAbout the Author: Ingrid Wickelgren is an editor at Scientific American Mind, but this is her personal blog at which, at random intervals, she shares the latest reports, hearsay and speculation on the mind, brain and behavior. Follow on Twitter @iwickelgren.
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The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.
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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Ethics in the Helping Professions: Moving From Swats to Consciousness


Posted: 06/08/2012 8:31 pm
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The teachings of Kohlberg and Gilligan offered us new ways to understand that our behaviors can be motivated from a number of directions on the moral compass. Any given action might be driven by fear of punishment, or nobility of purpose, each creating radically different personal and social meanings.
It is to be hoped that licensed helping professionals make decisions based on the guidance of the higher self. At Southwestern College, we teach in that direction. Our mission is "Transforming Consciousness through Education"; we think the cultivation of more evolved "Consciousness" is the collective's best bet for effecting world change.
I'm not so sure our professional organizations are of the same mind. Professional "Codes of Ethics" in the helping professions (and perhaps in your field as well?) appear to embrace the notion that the lowest Kohlbergian levels are appropriate positions from which to guide its people. Reflecting back on my old high school days, the codes feel kind of like an updated version of "swats." Hmmm.
How did these governing bodies write, or talk themselves into such positions? Well, I found myself harkening back to the Ten Commandments, (the version I learned, anyway), where 8 of 10 contain "Thou Shalt Not" as a central proposition. Imagine if God (or even Moses) had been a Positive Psychologist. Probably the Ten Commandments would have been the "Ten Reflections on Evolved and Happy Living." I don't think we would get "thou shalt not'ed" even once. So I think this stuff started a long time ago in our culture.
I did a little more research, starting with our State Board. Its code is absolutely full of threats and warnings and fiats and mandates and finger-wagging and fire and brimstone. Thou shalt not. We will ground you, swat you, take away the car keys, kick your backside. It's kind of primitive, actually. I have half a notion that Sister Mary Redempta is in the next room, waiting to unleash her ruler on my knuckles (again).
One could wish they were encouraging our higher selves a bit more. Ok, a lot more.
I also looked at two national boards' codes of ethics, and found that although they are significantly better, they are still laced with literally dozens of thou shalt nots.
Even the oft (mis)-quoted Hippocratic Oath chides us to "Above all, do no harm." Pretty low bar. Yikes. How about "Serve your patients to the best of your ability, with an open heart."
How about instead of "Thou shalt not kill", we go with "Please show the utmost in reverence and appreciation for all forms of life."
"Above all, have the best interest of your clients in mind during the entire time of your work together and beyond."
"Always be as conscious as possible about your motivations in all of your interactions with others."
I like it. "Thou shalt not" carries a certain energy that casts a dark shadow over our relationship with the matter under consideration. It would be like walking into a classy store and sales guy yells "Don't even THINK about stealing stuff from this store, Jack." Mood gone.
Most schools of metaphysics argue that, energetically, the universe is likely to manifest more of what we focus upon, and does not process the negation of it. Thus, allegedly, Mother Teresa turned down an invitation to an "anti-war rally," saying some variation of "When you decide to hold a 'peace rally,' let me know -- I'll be happy to come to that." This teaching seems particularly relevant here.
Can we lead our students and mentees, indeed our selves, and our colleagues, with visions of a nobler world? I think we can. But we must begin with codes of ethics that call on our higher self to start driving the bus, rather than with threats of being thrown under it.
 
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Friday, June 8, 2012

An Inconvenient Truth: The Pollution of American Consciousness


Posted: 06/08/2012 9:06 am
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Only the strong survive. Yeah, we have all heard this deceptively honorable maxim before. Even some of the greatest minds of science stand behind the theory of Social Darwinism. Remarkably, what is often overlooked is the tactic used by the "strong" in order to "survive." It is evident that the tactic employed in America has been and continues to be the exploitation of the weak.
America was founded on the exploitation of the weak. Early Americans were aware of the technological advantages they had over the "ignorant" natives' primitive weaponry. As a result, America mercilessly held a gun to the backs of the natives and forced them to trudge along a trail of tears into the distant impoverished reservations -- knowing they could overpower them in any moment of conflict.
This act of exploitation is still alive and well in today's America. As a matter of fact, America plasters the face of this ethnic cleansing process on its $20 bill. When the foundation of a nation is built on exploitation rather than diplomacy, it only follows that this tactic remains consistent throughout the experience of that nation. It was exploitation that planted the seeds on the soil stolen from the last of the Mohicans -- the seeds that eventually sprouted and became the jungle that is America.
The growth of the jungle was fertilized by the exploitation of the weak. After centuries of stabilizing African-Americans in society's basement through the exploitative legal institutions of slavery -- the Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws -- America eventually turned to a group of laborers with an even greater weakness: desperation.
The new immigrants of the 19th century became the major workforce of American industries and helped propel America to its position as the greatest manufacturer in the world. However, these new immigrants had their weaknesses: Not only were they ignorant of the ills of the working class in America, but they were also desperate for a life away from their homes plagued with religious and political oppression. Aware of these vulnerabilities, the heads of American companies forced their workers into an endless cycle of debt and arduous labor, eventually wearing them out to a point of exhaustion, only to replace them like the burnt tires of a Formula One racecar driven by the ambition to always win first place.
The ills of the working class prove to be chronic as many Americans today face the same sort of exploitation seen during the Gilded Age. The Occupy Wall Street movement protests the exploitation of the 99 percent by the overpowering one percent. Protesters feel betrayed andclaim that they are being taken advantage of by big corporations and federal government policies. According to an Al Jazeera report, "The Top 1%," published in October 2011, the richest one percent of America controls 40 percent of the nation's wealth -- numbers comparable to those of the Gilded Age. Whenever there is a social gap this large, it is because the rich authorities exploit their powers over the helpless commoners in order to maintain their economic supremacy.
Nowadays, it is not only the American people who are being exploited -- foreign nations face the same issue. South Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan are only three nations that are home to countless U.S. military bases. Often, the bases are in developing nations or nations that are politically unstable. These weaker nations serve as breeding ground for America to spread its political and cultural influence -- to establish itself as the "law enforcer" of the world and portray itself as the "city upon a hill."
Even the greatest American authors have continuously depicted a theme of exploitation with their social and political commentary. From Thomas Paine's Common Sense to James Fennimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans; from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle to the Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, the American experience typifies exploitation in all facets. Ask any American what they know of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and they will at least be able to narrate how Tom takes advantage of his friends' naiveté and gets them to paint the fence instead of him.
The American experience has been filled with countless acts of exploitation, the victims usually being the weak. Exploitation, however, has propelled America into its dominant position in the world. This world hegemony comes at the expense of masses suffering both inside and outside of America. America plucks the vulnerable fruit and squeezes out the juices of prosperity and power with its strangling grasp, leaving the tree lifeless and bare.
 
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