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totally | 2 years ago

Is symmetry between left and right brain what allows consciousness to exist?

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jfengel|2 years ago

Clearly not, since you can have consciousness with only half a brain. Even a full hemispherectomy doesn't make you not conscious. In fact, there may be little change to the personality or cognition at all.

The symmetry between right and left brain doesn't really correspond to the types of symmetries they're talking about in the article. They're usually expressed as "The laws of physics are independent of X; you can substitute X with Y and the laws work the same." There isn't any kind of substitution here, so no place to apply the symmetry.

SketchySeaBeast|2 years ago

Given that the left and right brain aren't exactly symmetrical and will receive and process different inputs that seems like a no.

eimrine|2 years ago

If some experimentator will destroy a half of his brain in such a way to not harm anything else - does he have a chance to keep being consciouness? That experiment kind of answers the question.

eimrine|2 years ago

In my opinion, one is between "this needs to be remembered, I will need this later" and "I have already remembered this, immediately recover!".