Consciousness and the Making of Mind: Decoding the Engine of Thought

 

The wonder of the mind's nature is at the core of our humanity. William James, often regarded as the grandfather of consciousness studies, challenged the traditional view of consciousness as a passive, purely mental phenomenon. He argued instead that the mind is deeply intertwined with bodily movement and sensory feedback. He thought that cognitive processes are inherently purposeful and directed towards action. While stimulus constantly evolves consciousness, consciousness actively participates in the world through physical actions.

He recognized how seemingly abstract thoughts and emotions are rooted in motor activity. For instance, thinking is not solely a mental process but is also connected to subtle muscular movements, such as those in the throat or eyes. This inherent connection to action led him to the concept of consciousness as a motor, a metaphorical framework that emphasizes consciousness' active and dynamic nature. In this concept, experience is a fundamentally motor-driven, active process that originates in perception, compelled by the senses and bodily sensations.

The brain's perception of the environment triggers memory and reaction, which deeply intertwines consciousness with its physical surroundings. Through these physical interactions with the world, consciousness guides behavior, helping organisms adapt to their environment. This interplay shapes our thoughts and alters the world, fostering a harmonious, parallel evolution of mind and matter.

For example, the sensory experience of a forest, with its rustling leaves, scents, and breezes, brings up memories—fragments on our mental scaffolds, such as a childhood camping trip. These past experiences formed the preferred pathways of the brain's physical wiring, representing a platform for the present. Thus, we process the present through the lens of the past. The experience, such as clearing the ground for the tent, affects the environment in a constant feedback loop, with each influencing the other. External stimuli trigger perception, inspiring actions to shape our world.

But how does this process work? We can take James' idea of consciousness as a motor further. In contrast to a motor that uses an external power source to create motion, the brain is more like an engine, a machine that burns fuel to generate motion. However, the engine's speed depends on fuel intake, while the brain's activation changes with stimulus, not its energy supply. The brain's generous glucose supply is constant whether we're solving a complex math problem, daydreaming, or fast asleep. The steady energy flow ensures smooth information transmission, like oiling a motor reduces friction. In this analogy, stimuli are the fuel that powers the mind's engine. 

James' concept of the mind as a motor underscores the dynamic role of consciousness in its environment. However, the constantly engaged mind uses the information from the stimulus as fuel. Therefore, consciousness is an information-processing engine. Like a well-oiled machine, this 'consciousness engine' efficiently processes and stores information as memories and experiences. These memories can serve as a constantly changing mental scaffolding, guiding the interpretation of our experiences. This perspective bridges the gap between the mind and its environment, offering a dynamic and pragmatic understanding of consciousness as a physical entity. Viewing consciousness as a physical organization provides a compelling perspective on the potential of artificial intelligence.

Image credit: Nathan Cowley

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Copyright © 2025 by Eva Deli

The Science of Emotions: Understanding Psychological Bias

 

The human brain, a marvel of biological engineering, is a metabolic powerhouse. Although it constitutes a mere 2% of our body weight, it consumes nearly 20% of its energy. This energy is dedicated to information processing, constantly resetting to a resting state characterized by low-frequency brain activations. Like the quiet hum of an engine running in the background, the resting state is the brain's "idle mode," a stable, self-referential baseline that underpins our sense of identity and belief systems. But what maintains this equilibrium? The answer lies in emotional feedback. Far from being abstract or ephemeral, emotions are dynamic forces embedded in our autonomic and motivational networks. Like a thermostat adjusting a room's temperature, emotions continually assess our physical, cultural, and social needs by setting our external environment against the backdrop of our memories.

Emotions ripple through every system of our body. They influence our hormonal pathways, triggering physical responses such as an increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension. These physiological changes, in turn, feed back into our emotional and mental regulation, continuously modulating our cognitive state. This intricate interplay makes categorizing emotions inherently challenging. Nevertheless, their tone frequencies and energy signatures allow for a broad classification into positive and negative states—a duality reminiscent of the bipolar spin in fermions—a concept in quantum physics. 

Psychological Spin: A Bridge to Quantum Mechanics 

Fermions are particles with half-integer spins, spinning in two directions—forming an "up" or "down" state. These opposing states give rise to attraction or repulsion between particles, preventing identical fermions from occupying the same quantum state. The repulsion is the essence of the Pauli exclusion principle and explains why matter cannot be infinitely compressed; it's the reason stars shine and atoms retain structure. This model of spin dynamics transcends the atomic scale, providing a metaphorical framework for analyzing social interactions. Individual emotions often come down to for or against attitudes, similar to binary spin states. As strangers crowd in an elevator, their discomfort is a visceral need for personal space mirroring fermionic repulsion. The competitive drive in social situations or the need to assert personal space mirrors the repulsive forces observed in atomic interactions, giving rise to society's complex, hierarchical structures.

Emotional bipolarity led to the concept of psychological spin, a term that captures our inherent disposition—for or against—every experience we encounter. Up psychological spin, associated with learning, acceptance, or contentment, enhances neural complexity and fosters adaptability. It encourages the formation of novel connections, promoting creative thinking, persistence, and resilience. Conversely, down psychological spin, often linked to stressful states like fear or frustration, narrows cognitive flexibility, leading to rigid or repetitive thought patterns that reduce patience and hinder problem-solving. Psychological spin can have long-term consequences, producing a recall bias by bringing forth memories that match our mood.

The concept of the spinor, a fascinating outcome of spin, takes this analogy further. Unlike ordinary objects, a spinor undergoes a peculiar sign change upon completing a full rotation. This property mirrors the way our emotional experiences can completely reverse their meaning in a different context. For example, a gentle caress from a loved one can evoke warmth and security. At the same time, in the context of past trauma, it triggers fear or disgust. Similarly, a compliment might be embraced as a genuine affirmation in one setting but interpreted as cynical or insincere in another. These emotional reversals highlight the brain's remarkable capacity to reinterpret and reverse its attitude—much like the transformation of a spinor when subjected to a complete rotational cycle.

                     

Classical (top) and quantum (bottom) turns

Conclusion 

Viewing emotions through the lens of physics offers a robust framework for understanding the chaotic interplay of our internal states. Much like a gyroscope senses tilt, emotions are vital indicators of bodily and psychological imbalances, guiding the brain as it adapts to a constantly changing environment. The psychological spin offers a more nuanced understanding of our emotional lives and deepens our appreciation for the dynamic nature of human cognition. It opens up innovative avenues for addressing mental health challenges and developing technologies that interface directly with our cognitive processes.

The book Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience is published on August 30, 2024. 

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Copyright © 2025 by Eva Deli

How Important is Emotional Reasoning?

 

Neuroscience has made significant progress in understanding the brain, but the nature of consciousness still needs to be explored. Meanwhile, recent spectacular advancements in artificial intelligence promise the possibility of machines achieving human-like cognitive abilities. At the core of both systems is a fundamental interplay of stimuli and response, requiring a deep understanding of the physical environment. Consequently, quantum mechanics and general relativity can be applied to the complexities of human behavior, such as the challenges of predicting, controlling, or retracing our thoughts. This landmark book investigates the nature of consciousness through the lens of physics rather than neuroscience.

Physics has provided a powerful explanation for diverse phenomena in the past. The fermionic mind hypothesis is a physics-based perspective on consciousness as an irreducible entity akin to particles—the fundamental units of energy or matter. The fermionic mind hypothesis emerges as a tour-de-force synthesis and framework for understanding consciousness, reimagined as the elemental unit of intellect. It highlights particle organization, a fundamental structure that cannot be understood as the sum of its parts, as the essential analogy between fermions and consciousness.

The book "Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience" presents an engaging scientific narrative that explores some of humanity's oldest and most profound questions. What is consciousness? What are emotions? How can a physical brain create a subjective experience? Do we have free will? Engaging and penetrating, Emotional Reasoning represents a groundbreaking perspective that will surprise you at every turn. It will enhance your confidence by helping you understand yourself and your place in the cosmic order. Beyond neuroscience, the book holds profound implications for artificial intelligence research. It reveals the intricate link between consciousness and the physical universe, echoing the philosophical insight of theoretical physicist John Wheeler: "The physical world is, in some deep sense, tied to the human being."

You can order the book "Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience." 

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Amazon Books

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Copyright © 2024 by Eva Deli

The Fermionic Mind Hypothesis, a novel consciousness theory

 

Consciousness is integral to human individuality and social existence and is a cornerstone of our remarkable technological, social, and cultural progress. The pursuit of understanding consciousness goes beyond everyday science and philosophy to reality's very essence and nature.

Exploring consciousness is a journey that transcends epochs and cultures, starting from mystical, spiritual, or religious significance. Descartes' idea of dualism posited that the mind and body were distinct. However, significant advancements in neuroscience, such as brain imaging and empirical science, have connected the manifestations of consciousness to specific brain activations, with the global workspace and integrated information theory (IIT) dominating the conversation. Although intriguing, the theories fail to offer a satisfactory model of consciousness.

As we strive to imbue artificial systems with consciousness-like capabilities, the nature of consciousness becomes an increasingly urgent question. While there are significant differences between the topological architecture of large language models (LLMs) and the neurobiological details of circuits empirically linked to consciousness in mammals, the possibility that future LLMs may achieve consciousness motivates us to turn to physics for a common thread between these artificial and biologically based intellects. 

The Fermionic Mind Hypothesis (FMH) is a novel consciousness theory. FMH synthesizes the insights of existing interdisciplinary approaches, encompassing neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, computer science, and even quantum physics, into a physical consciousness model. A model of consciousness as a particle can clarify various characteristics of consciousness, including the subjective feeling of separation, the role of the observer, and the challenge of managing our thoughts and emotions. Moreover, the contrast between constant self-identity and probabilistic perception resembles wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics. 

The principles governing the smallest building blocks of matter, fermions, are mirrored in the workings of the mind. Perception is a reverse thermodynamic cycle that drives cognitive change by altering synaptic complexity. ​The direction of the mental cycle represents intrinsic motivation and is analogous to spin.​ Reversing the cycle creates an exothermic process that dissipates energy and degrades intellect. ​The fermionic organization provides emotions with a powerful action-producing capacity analogous to the elemental forces in physics. 

The hypothesis is an elegant and testable framework with profound implications for philosophy and social policy. Understanding the nature of consciousness could offer insights into mental and neurological disorders and would impact our ability to define animal consciousness in neuroscience and medicine. It would help us create AI systems with more human-like intelligence, empathy, decision-making abilities, and sentience. It could hint at why consciousness evolved, what it means for our existence, the nature of reality, and our place in the universe. It can shed light on spiritual experiences and transcendence and demonstrate that consciousness is a fundamental building block of nature woven into the fabric of reality. 

You can order the book "Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience." 

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Copyright © 2024 by Eva Deli

Should we worry about the changes brought about by AI?

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At the time when writing was primarily reserved for official and religious documents, philosophers polished their craft through meticulous oral arguments. The advent of papyrus expanded access to recorded knowledge, which raised concerns for Plato: "For this invention will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it because they will not practice their memory. Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them." Plato feared that writing would supplant memorization, potentially leading to intellectual decline. Plato was right that writing made memorization of long passages redundant, but it preserved ancient knowledge, including Plato's ideas.  

For a thousand years after Plato, writing remained the exclusive privilege of the aristocracy, priests, and clergy until Gutenberg invented the printing press. This marked a significant turning point in history, democratizing access to written knowledge and creating a demand for literacy. The widespread availability of the Bible fostered a new sense of brotherhood, equality, and human dignity, as expressed in the New Testament.

With the emergence of AI, we stand at the brink of another transformative era, with the potential to reshape society just as profoundly as the writing or the printing press did. AI offers myriad ways to expedite technological evolution, including task automation, data analysis, predictive modeling, revolutionary advancements in healthcare and drug discovery, optimization of manufacturing and supply chains, natural language processing, idea generation, simulation creation, and personalized user experiences on a global scale. 

On a personal level, the AI revolution promises to significantly increase our free time. How do we use this opportunity to determine society's future? My upcoming book, Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience, discusses the nature of consciousness and other fascinating questions about human behavior and the anticipation of artificial consciousness. 

The book Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience is published on August 30, 2024. 

To order:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon Books

From the Publisher

Copyright © 2024 by Eva Deli

Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience

Beginning with Pauli, exploring the physical world has inspired many physicists to contemplate the mind as a physical entity. Inversely, a broad range of scientific disciplines, including psychology and neuroscience, turned to physics for a deeper understanding.

Adept response to stimuli requires a profound grasp of the physical world's organizational principles and governing laws. Our intrinsic intuition facilitates our adaptation to the environment, enabling thinking and behavior. The operational structure observed in the physical world is also part of our psychology.

In a thought-provoking journey, Emotional Reasoning pushes the boundaries of understanding the mind and emotions. The author turns to physics to formulate a new vision of consciousness as an irreducible entity (similar to particles, the fundamental units of energy or matter). The fermionic mind hypothesis emerges as a tour-de-force synthesis and framework of consciousness, the elemental unit of intellect. It highlights particle organization, a fundamental structure that cannot be understood as the sum of its parts, as the essential analogy between fermions and consciousness. 

Engaging and penetrating, Emotional Reasoning represents a groundbreaking perspective that will surprise you at every turn. It will enhance your confidence through understanding yourself and your place in the cosmic order. Beyond neuroscience, the book holds profound implications for artificial intelligence research. It reveals the intricate link between consciousness and the physical universe, echoing the philosophical insight of John Wheeler. "The physical world is, in some deep sense, tied to the human being." 

The publication date for Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience was August 30, 2024. 

Order:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon Books

From the Publisher

Copyright © 2024 by Eva Deli

The Shifting Dynamics of Gender Power: Does it threaten male dominance?

 

Recent high-profile sexual abuse cases have brought issues of power, gender dynamics, and societal transformations to the forefront. For example, E. Jean Carroll filed and won a lawsuit against Donald Trump for sexual assault. In another similar case, Prince Andrew reached a settlement that included a "substantial donation" to a charity led by Virginia Giuffre, the alleged victim. Other downfalls of powerful men due to sexual accusations exemplify a significant cultural shift.

The #MeToo movement, born out of the widespread revelation of sexual misconduct allegations across various industries, gave voice to survivors and challenged entrenched power structures. This movement has empowered women beyond mere abuse and harassment to challenge traditional gender roles and gain a more significant role in every facet of society.

Nevertheless, the fear of false accusations and the potential misuse of claims of sexual harassment have led to apprehension among some men. Women's empowerment also threatens traditional gender roles. The gradual disappearance of the domineering male role has triggered anxiety, highlighting the complexity of navigating a cultural transformation that challenges long-standing norms and power structures. 

In the past, the lack of a social net made individual welfare and often survival dependent on the family, making the traditional family structure and unity crucial. Due to their greater strength, men took on roles perceived as external and protective. At the same time, women, due to the biology of childbirth and nursing, assumed nurturing and caregiving responsibilities. Wars and outside conflicts reinforced the division of responsibilities. The male inheritance of property, titles, and wealth sealed the inferior role of women in society. 

The twenty-first century has witnessed significant social transformations, including the global spread of democracy, increasing women's participation in the workforce, and a sexual revolution. Women's contributions are increasingly necessary in the economy. These monumental changes occurred parallel with a decline in total testosterone levels among men. Science cannot account for the cause of this significant change. Our more democratic social environment at work and home may be behind this hormonal change. Greater participation for men in child-rearing and housework, on the one hand, and uninhibited professional career opportunities for women, on the other hand, transform interpersonal relationships and power structures.

As we navigate this era of change, fostering open dialogue and promoting understanding is essential to build an inclusive and respectful society for both sexes. 

Picture credit: E. Jean Carroll by Julieannes MO, via Wikimedia 

Copyright © 2024 by Eva Deli