[From Richard Thurman (960501.0905)]
Rick Marken (960430.1400)
Richard Thurman (960430.0815):
I hoped that by talking about post-commissurotomy research we (those
interested in the issue) might agree that one can be 'aware' of, yet not
be
paying attention to many variables.
I don't see this.
This is kinda frustrating. Why is it I can't get this idea across. Or
maybe the idea is coming across just fine but it (the idea) is so lame
that you all are politely trying to tell me I'm full of it (er.. full of
hot air that is).
Maybe we should try defining these terms in a way that could be linked to
an
actual model. I think "awareness" might be defined as "the perception of
a
perception".
.
.
.
I think of "attention" as the process of becoming aware of a perception;
coming to perceive that a perception is present.
I like this, Rick. At least now I know how you use the terms.
Maybe I should try to articulate how I use the terms awareness, attention
and consciousness.
Awareness is the term I use when I am referring to perceptions that go on
outside of "me." As in, "He is aware of his environment."
Consciousness is the term I use when I am referring to perceptions that go
on inside of me. As in, "He was conscious of his own feelings."
However, the terms are based upon who is "me." For example, when "I" am
paying attention to my thoughts and the internal dialog that runs inside
my head, its as if I am observing them from a distance. My own thoughts
and feelings are not part of "me" but exist "out there" external to "me."
In this case 'awareness turns inward to my internal environment and I can
become aware of my own consciousness. So it is possible to become aware
of ones consciousness, but only if consciousness is treated as an external
kind of thing.
At other times "I" am my total being - my whole body. At these times I
can pay attention to what I am aware of 'out there' in the environment. I
can pay attention to how I am perceiving the environment. When this
happens I can become consciously aware of my sensory perceptions. That
is, I am conscious of my senses. I am consciously aware of "my" world.
Sometimes I am not paying particular attention to the external
environment. Things go on around me that I am only vaguely (if at all)
paying attention to. Instead I may be paying attention to my thoughts and
consciousness. When I 'come to' again, I find that I may have stopped
walking, or have completely stopped what I was doing. At these times I
seem to be completely conscious but quite unaware.
At other times I can be stuck in some thought process and may not be
paying attention to the fact that I am driving down the road or doing some
sort of 'automatic' behavior. At these times I am conscious of my inner
self, but (seemingly) completely unaware of my environment. I am
conscious but unaware. (Yet some part of me must be aware of the
environment and is continuing the control.) I arrive home safely, not
remembering the drive at all. Once again I am conscious but not aware.
I was in the emergency room of a hospital where the patient next to me was
screaming and yelling, yet he was not in pain. When I asked the doctor
what his problem was, he told me the man was having an adverse reaction to
some recreational drugs he had taken. He told me the man did not seem to
be able to sense anything. Think of that. He was alone, completely in
his own little world. Total sensory deprivation. He was completely cut
off from sensing the environment, completely unaware of the world around
him. Yet he was quite conscious, and obviously very scared. (The staff
were hoping that as the drugs wore off he would recover.)
So, according to the way I use the terms, it is possible to be conscious,
yet not aware. Its also possible to be aware of one's consciousness. Its
even possible to be conscious of one's awareness. But to me, they are
separate yet interacting things.
Attention seems to be the focuser. Its the thing that allows me to look
inwardly or outwardly. I like what you (Rick) said about it being "the
process of becoming aware of a perception." It probably is a process.
ยทยทยท
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My appreciation for letting me ramble.
Rich
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Richard Thurman
Armstrong Lab
6001 S. Power Rd. BLDG. 558
Mesa AZ. 85206-0904
(602)988-6561
Thurman@hrlban1.aircrew.asu.edu
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