Consciousness and the prefrontal parietal network: insights from attention, working memory, and chunking

Consciousness has of late become a “hot topic” in neuroscience. Empirical work has centered on identifying potential neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), with a converging view that the prefrontal parietal network (PPN) is closely associated with this process. Theoretical work has primarily sought to explain how informational properties of this cortical network could account for phenomenal properties of consciousness. However, both empirical and theoretical research has given less focus to the psychological features that may account for the NCCs. The PPN has also been heavily linked with cognitive processes, such as attention. We describe how this literature is under-appreciated in consciousness science, in part due to the increasingly entrenched assumption of a strong dissociation between attention and consciousness. We argue instead that there is more common ground between attention and consciousness than is usually emphasized: although objects can under certain circumstances be attended to in the absence of conscious access, attention as a content selection and boosting mechanism is an important and necessary aspect of consciousness. Like attention, working memory and executive control involve the interlinking of multiple mental objects and have also been closely associated with the PPN. We propose that this set of cognitive functions, in concert with attention, make up the core psychological components of consciousness. One related process, chunking, exploits logical or mnemonic redundancies in a dataset so that it can be recoded and a given task optimized. Chunking has been shown to activate PPN particularly robustly, even compared with other cognitively demanding tasks, such as working memory or mental arithmetic. It is therefore possible that chunking, as a tool to detect useful patterns within an integrated set of intensely processed (attended) information, has a central role to play in consciousness. Following on from this, we suggest that a key evolutionary purpose of consciousness may be to provide innovative solutions to complex or novel problems

The cybernetic Bayesian brain: from interoceptive inference to sensorimotor contingencies

Is there a single principle by which neural operations can account for perception, cognition, action, and even consciousness? A strong candidate is now taking shape in the form of “predictive processing”. On this theory, brains engage in predictive inference on the causes of sensory inputs by continuous minimization of prediction errors or informational “free energy”. Predictive processing can account, supposedly, not only for perception, but also for action and for the essential contribution of the body and environment in structuring sensorimotor interactions. In this paper I draw together some recent developments within predictive processing that involve predictive modelling of internal physiological states (interoceptive inference), and integration with “enactive” and “embodied” approaches to cognitive science (predictive perception of sensorimotor contingencies). The upshot is a development of predictive processing that originates, not in Helmholtzian perception-as-inference, but rather in 20th-century cybernetic principles that emphasized homeostasis and predictive control. This way of thinking leads to (i) a new view of emotion as active interoceptive inference; (ii) a common predictive framework linking experiences of body ownership, emotion, and exteroceptive perception; (iii) distinct interpretations of active inference as involving disruptive and disambiguatory—not just confirmatory—actions to test perceptual hypotheses; (iv) a neurocognitive operationalization of the “mastery of sensorimotor contingencies” (where sensorimotor contingencies reflect the rules governing sensory changes produced by various actions); and (v) an account of the sense of subjective reality of perceptual contents (“perceptual presence”) in terms of the extent to which predictive models encode potential sensorimotor relations (this being “counterfactual richness”). This is rich and varied territory, and surveying its landmarks emphasizes the need for experimental tests of its key contributions

The grand challenge of consciousness

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Role of Intellectual Peoperty Rights in the Benefit Sharing Arrangements: The Case of Bio-resources Development and Conservation Program in Nigeria

The subject of this case study is the role of intellectual property rights in the benefit-sharing arrangements surrounding the work of the Bio-resources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP) as a part of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) in the field of traditional medicine. In particular the role of patents, trade secrets and trademarks are discussed. The case examines, inter alia, a national patent and an "international" patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), with claims over TK-based pharmaceutical inventions related to the work of the ICBG. Copies of these patents are attached in Annexes 3.4.3 and 3.4.4. Based on these examples, the availability of patent protection is identified as a key requisite for generating benefits to be shared with local practitioners of traditional medicine from pharmaceutical research based on their knowledge. The central role of a Trust Fund established by BDCP for sharing these benefits in monetary and non-monetary form is highlighted. The case study also illustrates the difficulty of balancing the input of various local stakeholders of TK and biological resources, such as traditional healers associations vis-�-vis local community representatives. This is a part of WIPO sponsored study on the role of intellectual property rights in the sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.

Rethinking the Priorities for Indian Agricultural Research, Institutions and Policy: Learning from the Grassroots

Sometimes having succeeded in a mission, we fail because we tend to persist with the same strategy even when times have changed. The success, thus, becomes the reason for failure. Indian agriculture research has been an outstanding success in terms of achieving food self-reliance and converting a perennially importing country to an exporting country. But, the trend in the last decade has been disappointing and reasons are not far to seek. I will take this opportunity to reflect on the three decades of my engagement with the agricultural research community so that some new pointers can be identified. I will also share the lessons learnt from the grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders through Honey Bee Network activities in the last two decades. It is possible that some of my views cause discomfort. But, it is with great respect that I submit these ideas. The agricultural research community has always considered me as an insider and therefore the liberty that they have allowed me to take with the ideas. The interface of science and society, which has become a bit weaker in recent years, was taken as a matter of deep concern and commitment. It is a privilege for me to share my views in Dr B P Pal's memory. I hope to help in triggering some thoughts towards revitalisation of our institutions, policy making approach and our relationship with the common people and their creativity. Paper deals with mainly four issues, viz., (i) Managing genetic resources, (ii) Rethinking sustainability, (iii) Redesigning research organisations for sustainable, accessible and affordable outcomes and (iv) Ethical and institutional issues in agricultural research. The quality of education, development of entrepreneurial spirit, monitoring eco system health and developing longitudinal research facilities are some of the other important concerns in the Indian agricultural research system. When plant breeding got dominated by the practice of making selections in international nurseries and releasing varieties instead of painstaking seven to eight year breeding cycles of complex crossing programmes, the faster mortality of such rapidly released varieties was inevitable. The incentive systems for scientists unfortunately have not been upgraded and calibrated in a manner that social, professional and individual interests can converge. The organisational design does not let new forms of partnerships and networks to emerge. The current crisis in Indian agriculture is a consequence of the outdated policies and irrelevant organisational and institutional designs. There is no escape from major restructuring of agricultural research policy and institutions. I may be forgiven for being too critical at several places in my submission. Thousands of innovations and traditional knowledge identified from more than 500 districts have proved, if a proof was needed that Indian farmers, artisans, pastoralists and mechanics are extremely creative and engagement with them can not be avoided by institutional science for too long without inviting an unfortunate backlash.