A model of the hierarchy of behaviour, cognition, and consciousness.
Processes comparable in important respects to those underlying human conscious and non-conscious processing can be identified in a range of species and it is argued that these reflect evolutionary precursors of the human processes. A distinction is drawn between two types of processing: (1) stimulus-based and (2) higher-order. For 'higher-order,' in humans the operations of processing are themselves associated with conscious awareness. Conscious awareness sets the context for stimulus-based processing and its end-point is accessible to conscious awareness. However, the mechanics of the translation between stimulus and response proceeds without conscious control. The paper argues that higher-order processing is an evolutionary addition to stimulus-based processing. The model's value is shown for gaining insight into a range of phenomena and their link with consciousness. These include brain damage, learning, memory, development, vision, emotion, motor control, reasoning, the voluntary versus involuntary debate, and mental disorder.
Toates
Frederick
F
The Open University, Biological Sciences, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. F.Toates@Open.ac.uk
D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D001332:Automatism; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D006184:Habits; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology