The Brain and Consciousness.

I found this interesting:

"According to Western neuroscience, consciousness is an epiphenomenon of
matter, a product of the physiological processes in the brain, and thus critically dependent
on the body. The death of the body, particularly of the brain, is then seen as the absolute
end of any form of conscious activity. Belief in the posthumous journey of the soul,
afterlife, or reincarnation is usually ridiculed as a product of wishful thinking of people
who are unable to accept the obvious biological imperative of death, the absolute nature
of which has been scientifically proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Very few people,
including most scientists, realize that we have absolutely no proof that consciousness is
actually produced by the brain and not even a remote notion how something like that
could possibly happen. In spite of it, this basic metaphysical assumption remains one of
the leading myths of Western materialistic science and has profound influence on our
entire society." Stanislav Grof. (Death and Dying)

http://www.stanislavgrof.com/pdf/Death% ... 0Dying.pdf

metaphysical assumption remains one of the leading myths

This is a very controversial way to refer to the null hypothesis. While we may not understand much about the way our personality/ego/soul/consciousness resides in or is generated by our brain we have no reason to believe that it doesn't do so. If fact there are a great many indications that it does.

The next decade may see some growth in our knowledge in this subject thanks to fMRI and increased interest and study in cognitive science.

It is a fascinating subject.

Originally Posted by metatron

Very few people,
including most scientists, realize that we have absolutely no proof that consciousness is
actually produced by the brain and not even a remote notion how something like that
could possibly happen. In spite of it, this basic metaphysical assumption remains one of
the leading myths of Western materialistic science and has profound influence on our
entire society."

This is just not true.

Neurologist Steven Novella has written on this topic, and he's given an overview of this:

If the brain causes mind, then:

1- Brain states will correlate to mental and behavioral states.

2- Brain maturity will correlate with mental and emotional maturity.

3- Changing the brain’s function (with drugs, electrical or magnetic stimulation, or other methods) will change mental function.

4- Damaging the brain with damage the mind - producing specific deficits that correlate to the area of the brain damaged.

5- There will be no documentable mental phenomena in the absence of brain function.

6- When the brain dies, mental function ends.

The conclusion from these facts is that the brain causes mind.

Furthermore, we can do things like induce Near Death Experiences in the lab. Such research on this fascinating phenomenon points to the mechanism by which they take place.

I recommend starting to read some of his posts on the topic:

http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=438

http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?cat=8

Yes this is true:

5- There will be no documentable mental phenomena in the absence of brain function.
6- When the brain dies, mental function ends.

Mental Function ends.

When the brain dies, mental function ends.

In some cases even before the brain dies...

And some are never born.

Originally Posted by Blondin

When the brain dies, mental function ends.

In some cases even before the brain dies...

Lol.

Brad M.

Cherish your memories of your wife.

We will all face this same sorrow some day. We are with you brother.

Originally Posted by BradM

This was a very tough week for me. My wife was recently involved in a car accident and was being kept alive on life support when I arrived at the hospital. After speaking with the doctor in charge of Dana, I was informed that shortly after the life support system was connected, Dana was brain dead.

I crumbled into a chair outside her room where family and friends were gathered around Dana's bed. It was all so surreal. I stared at a blank wall for what seemed like days and mustered the strength to stand up. Upon seeing her doctor, I asked if her status had changed. He shook his head and said, "no."

I told the doctor to disconnect the life support immediately. The wife's family went ballistic, but there was nothing they could do. As the techs disconnected the equipment, I filled out the necessary paper work to have her organs removed and to have her body sent to the University for scientific research.

Upon learning what had been done, I was swarmed by the incensed in-laws. Dana's mother screams, "How dare you have our daughter dissected and desecrated by medical students without even a funeral and proper burial?"

Calmly I replied, "Dana is no more. That slab of meat was no more your daughter than a side of beef. Now relax and enjoy your life!"

I am sorry for your loss, I can only imagine what going through something like that would be like if I were in that situation.

I agree with what you did though. I would want the same if I were in that situation, I've asked my family and girlfriend to donate my organs and use my body for research when I die. I carry around a donor card as well. In my opinion, it is very selfish not to donate organs after death if they can be used to prolong another life.


And this is not to sound rude or disrespectful, but is this really true? You said:

Calmly I replied, "Dana is no more. That slab of meat was no more your daughter than a side of beef. Now relax and enjoy your life!"

Is this true?