Charles D. Laughlin

The properties of neurognosis

Abstract An important concept in biogenetic structural theory is neurogenesis. It refers to the initial, inherited organization of neural models from which more developed models grow. The world of experience and knowledge, termed the cognized environment, develops from neurognostic structures in the brain. The development of models must address Piagets two requirements of conservation and adaptation. The brain is the premier organ of “exaptation” in Goulds sense. Neurogenesis is thus an evolutionary process realized in ontogenesis. It explains universal patterns found in cross-cultural behavior, and provides the primitive realism that is found in knowledge systems of people everywhere. This primitive realism includes knowledge of the structure of the quantum universe, which is represented in the symbolism of traditional cosmologies.

Imagination and Reality: On the Relations Between Myth, Consciousness, and the Quantum Sea

There often appears to be a striking correspondence between mythic stories and aspects of reality. We will examine the processes of creative imagination within a neurobiological frame and suggest a theory that may explain the functions of myth in relation to the hidden aspects of reality. Myth is peppered with archetypal entities and interactions that operate to reveal hidden processes in reality that are relative to the human condition. The imagery in myths in a sense “sustains the true.” That is, mythopoetic imagery keeps the interpretive process in experience closer to the actual nature of reality than the rational faculties operating alone are able to do. Indeed, whereas rationalizing can easily lead us awry, genuine myth rarely does. Explanations of events offered by cultures around the world are frequently couched in terms of mythic themes and events. An important function of myth is to provide a “field of tropes” that in-forms the lived experience of people. This paper focuses especially on those aspects of myth that represent facets of the quantum universe and give us clues as to the relationship between consciousness, symbolism, and reality.

Pre- and perinatal brain development and enculturation

Ample evidence from various quarters indicates that the perceptual-cognitive competence of the pre- and perinatal human being is significantly greater than was once thought. Some of the evidence of this emerging picture of early competence is reviewed, and its importance both as evidence of the biogenetic structural concept of “neurognosis” and for a theory of enculturation is discussed. The literature of pre- and perinatal psychology, especially that of developmental neuropsychology, psychobiology, and social psychophysiology, is incorporated, and some of the implications of these data for a theory of enculturation are suggested.

Cultural Neurophenomenology: Integrating Experience, Culture and Reality Through Fisher Information

Anthropologists and psychologists have long debated the relative importance of nature and nurture in human affairs. By and large anthropologists have opted for what might be called the ‘naïve culturological position’ that when our species developed culture, it left its biological roots behind. Psychologists, on the other hand, until relatively recently, have largely ignored the impact of culture upon the processes and functioning of the human mind. In their attempt to approximate the rigors of scientific methods practiced in the so-called ‘hard’ sciences, it is often a naïve scientism that drives theorizing and research in the discipline. The single most decisive impediment to the emergence of a mature anthropology and psychology is the mind–body schism. We will argue that bridging the mind–body schism requires a language by means of which we can refer to individual experience, culture and extramental reality simultaneously. Our approach is that of a cultural neurophenomenology that allows us to speak about the social and biological factors that produce, potentiate and limit human experience. We show that one key concept in unifying the languages of these different domains is ‘information’. We trace the history of the concept of information, and demonstrate that from the perspective of Fisher information one may more easily conceive of the interactions among experience, culture and reality in commensurable terms. Fisher information also allows us to model the relationship between knowledge and reality, and to suggest some of the mechanisms by which the individual psyche and a societys culture remain ‘trued-up’ relative to the reality of the world and the individuals own being.

The future of human consciousness

Abstract It is remarkable that few serious thinkers have speculated in public about the possible future forms that our species might take. A few Western philosophers and scientists—Nietzsche, 1 Teilhard de Chardin 2 and Yoneji Masuda 3—have touched on the next stage of evolution. In the East, others such as Sri Aurobindo 4 have interpreted contemporary transformations of society and culture as a cyclical manifestation of the upward spiral of human consciousness. The only genre of literature that seems to touch systematically on this matter has been science fiction—a professionally safe genre. There is no certainty of prediction required, only speculation about potentialities and possibilities—alternative futures and future alternatives. This article outlines a structural view that anticipates what may result from the complexification and reorganization of human consciousness.

Neurognosis, the Development of Neural Models, and the Study of the Ancient Mind

Abstract Cognitive archaeology has made great strides over the past two decades in understanding the mind, experience, practices, and cultures of ancient peoples. Much of this development is due to theoretical orientations focused first upon sociocultural adaptation to ecological niches, and then upon the more symbolic aspects of material culture. Speculations about the universal attributes of the ancient mind may be grounded upon neuroscience and upon the concept of neurognosis, the inherited structures and processes mediating the structural properties of consciousness. The importance of simulacra is discussed relative to the evolution of iconography. Neurocognition is shown to be highly symbolic in its operations, and the symbolic brain is impelled to reify universal cosmologies that are at the core of each societys mythritual complex. It is only with an understanding of the structural foundations of human mentation that we may lay scientifically valid interpretations of ancient human cognition, imagination, activity, and culture.

The cyborg, the ideology chip and the guru programme: the implications of cyborg technologies for the development of human consciousness

There has been little thought given in science to the impact of direct brain‐machine interfacing upon the future development of human consciousness. Even less thought has been given to the possibilities for both optimizing and thwarting development in the cyborg child. A neurocognitive model of the evolution of cyborg consciousness is summarized, and from this model grounded speculations are offered pertaining to the future development of the higher cognitive functions in the cyborg child. It will be shown that cybernetic implants are “multistable”; that is, the artificial intelligence (AI) component of the cyborg brain‐machine linkage may function to condition development along ideological lines (the brain conditioned by the “ideological chip”), or may operate to open up neurocognitive development to new and heretofore unrealized limits (the brain’s development optimized by the “guru programme”). Development of the cyborg child may be conditioned in the interests of ideological concerns, or may lead to a consciousness that easily transcends all forms of ideology. Application of the guru programme may foster the emergence of new levels of cognitive complexity and information processing (a la Piagetian and neo‐Piagetian theory) that in turn allows new strategies of adaptation previously beyond human comprehension. The ethical and regulatory problems raised by cyborg technologies are addressed.

Dreams that Matter: Egyptian Landscapes of the Imagination

I love the subtitle of Mittermaier’s introduction to her new book, Dreams That Matter: “Studying Dreams in Undreamy Times.” It pretty much sums up the intent of the book, and the state of modern dream research as well. Mind you, this is not a work of New Age fluffery. Far from it: Mittermaier is an assistant professor in both the Department for the Study of Religion and the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilization at the University of Toronto, and is a specialist in the esoteric aspects of Middle Eastern religions with an extensive background of fieldwork in Egypt. In this book she reflects upon the meaning and role of dreaming under the stressful conditions of Egyptian life today: