title: Concerning mind.
abstract: The nature of the human mind is addressed from a neurological viewpoint. First from reported observations on subjects born blind with congenital cataract, who acquired vision after surgery, the concept of the primacy of somatosensation is developed. Therefrom some principles of the organization of higher sensory functions in the dominant parietal, occipital and temporal lobes are deduced. Sentience is traced to somatosensation. Some characteristics of the mind and of thinking are described. The non-existence of the unconscious is inferred. The question of free will is approached. Using neurological experience it is demonstrated that a good case for operation of a free will is difficult to establish. Positing the absence of a free will may be beneficial in the analysis and management of behavior. Finally the opportunity to study the nature and mechanism of the emotions in clinical neurology is outlined.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000151:congenital / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D014836:Volition