title: Evolutionary aspects of self- and world consciousness in vertebrates.
abstract: Although most aspects of world and self-consciousness are inherently subjective, neuroscience studies in humans and non-human animals provide correlational and causative indices of specific links between brain activity and representation of the self and the world. In this article we review neuroanatomic, neurophysiological and neuropsychological data supporting the hypothesis that different levels of self and world representation in vertebrates rely upon (i) a "basal" subcortical system that includes brainstem, hypothalamus and central thalamic nuclei and that may underpin the primary (or anoetic) consciousness likely present in all vertebrates; and (ii) a forebrain system that include the medial and lateral structures of the cerebral hemispheres and may sustain the most sophisticated forms of consciousness [e.g., noetic (knowledge based) and autonoetic, reflective knowledge]. We posit a mutual, bidirectional functional influence between these two major brain circuits. We conclude that basic aspects of consciousness like primary self and core self (based on anoetic and noetic consciousness) are present in many species of vertebrates and that, even self-consciousness (autonoetic consciousness) does not seem to be a prerogative of humans and of some non-human primates but may, to a certain extent, be present in some other mammals and birds.
authors: Department of Human Sciences, University of Udine Udine, Italy ; Perceptual Robotics Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa, Italy.
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Fabbro
authors: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy ; Fondazione Santa Lucia, IRCCS Rome, Italy.
authors: Salvatore M
authors: SM
authors: Aglioti
authors: Perceptual Robotics Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bergamasco
authors: Psychiatric Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste Trieste, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Clarici
authors: Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University Pullman, WA, USA.
authors: Jaak
authors: J
authors: Panksepp
keywords: mental time traveling; nervous system evolution; self and world awareness; theory of mind; vertebrate brain