Origin of consciousness? Part-2: Neurons and consciousness

    I have been studying human body and its various components a lot in past couple of months. Recently, while studying components I again came across the question about, “origin of consciousness” which I discussed here. Well, in that post I was more of questioning and trying to draw parallels but now after studying basics of functionality of neurons I believe, I am convinced that consciousness is not really independent or some divine gift.

    Neurons are nerve cells and form an important part of our nervous system. Neurons are connected to each other and communicate with electrical signals generated through transfer of ions. These connections effectively act as channels for sensing and determining our behavior like response to any situation. Neurons also store memory (?) and use this memory for taking decisions. If you are familiar with neural logics than you can imagine why they have been named so.


    Memory stored in our brain influence our behavior and at times our thinking process. For example, when you go to your old house, where you spent your childhood, then all of sudden your mind will be occupied in recalling the incidents of childhood. One can quote any number of examples. So, here comes the analogy: if neurons control memory, sensing and our response, and our sensing, memory and response affects conscious; then it is possible that consciousness is governed by interaction of neurons.  Neurons interact with each other which of course depend upon combination of factors like sensing, physiological state of human etc. These interactions of neurons produce thoughts in brain. Now let us try to prove this with an example, someone present in Africa won’t be thinking of mathematics but why? Because he doesn’t have enough luxury to do so as he needs to make up basic needs, his senses are hammering neurons to get food and his mind will be engaged in thinking new ways of hunting rather than new mathematical theories.

    Now, comes the important questions- why then everybody thinks differently? Well, there are 20 billion neurons (?) imagine possible combination of interactions and so many thoughts. You will have one particular combination at a time and hence a particular thought. You might remember that you and your friend were about to say similar thing, why? Because both mind were engaged in similar conditions. 

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