Dyadic Model of Consciousness - Part 2
It has been subsequently discovered that at most elemental levels dynamic exchanges of quantized energy between matter and the zero point field continuously take place. This is somewhat analogous to a liquid exchanging molecules with a vapor above its surface. The zero point field is considered to be the field of quantum fluctuations at the zero-level of manifest energy. It underlies all matter and all empty space throughout the universe. It is the most likely candidate for the source of the Big Bang. Furthermore, experiment has demonstrated (Aspect, 1982) that particles have non-local properties insofar as their previous interactions involved an identical quantum state.
When we consider the way the human organism receives information, science has limited itself to considering information from the five normal senses, all of which find their basis in electromagnetic theory. However the human body not only receives but perceives information from external sources and also has an elaborate internal “feeling sense” which manages information internally. “Feeling” is by definition a subjective experience. This internal feeling sense and the associated information management system is a key element in the dyadic model.
The feeling sense monitors the internal well being of the system, provides access to intuition, provides response to sublimated memories, provides stimuli for the emotions and provides a response to non-local information. All of the functions, however, may be described simply in terms of information management. Although non-local effects have been observed and studied for over a century by parapsychologists, in the absence of a compelling theory the results have been ignored or disparaged and certainly misrepresented by mainstream science. Non-locality in quantum physics now provides a physical basis for these effects. A large number of investigators for several decades have demonstrated that brain waves can be synchronized and information transferred between individuals across Faraday cage barriers. The results do not obey the inverse square rule of electromagnetic propagation, nor are they time dependant, suggesting the phenomenon is a macro-scale version of quantum non-locality, but with more degrees of freedom that simple particles undergoing a double split experiment.
Split brain theory, mapping the functional capabilities of the brain, plus anthropological studies suggest that the linguistic and reasoning capabilities, resident in the left hemisphere and frontal lobe, are later capabilities that have evolved. The functions of the right hemisphere and the limbic region are pre-linguistic, are responsible for pattern recognition, intuition, emotional response and more holistic functions. The dyadic theory suggests that the molecules of the body and brain are also in dynamic exchange of energy with the zero point field (as is all matter) and also resonate non-locally with each other and the remainder of the universe. The brain/body inner “feeling” sense provide perception of this information. Likely the zero point field is the mechanism for this resonance. The non-local resonance of energy and matter throughout the universe is suggested as nature’s most fundamental information management scheme.
Dyadic theory predicts that patterns of resonance become more complex as the complexity of the molecular structure increases; that the modes of resonance parallel the degrees of freedom of molecular structure. Perception possesses additional degrees of freedom in more complex matter. Observed first at the level of subatomic particles, but by extension to all matter, non-locality provides an information basis for all subjective experience. In retrospect it seems exceedingly strange that if both energy and information have been present from the beginnings of the universe, ant that matter seems to have self organized from energy, that information would not also be utilized in the organizational process. But information is the basis of “knowing” and “knowing” implies the attribute that Homo sapiens experience as “consciousness” or “mind”. Thus mind in some elemental sense is ubiquitously present in the universe.
I argue that the most fundamental aspects of consciousness with which we are concerned are actually “perception” (or awareness) and “intentionality” (or volition). Thus it is these fundamental attributes that are likely the primordial antecedent to the evolved consciousness that Homo sapiens experiences. The “mentality” that we experience is the evolving component of consciousness that requires a more complex brain and nervous system.
Likely all matter in nature, but certainly all living matter perceives information within some nuance of the word “perceive”. In other words, fundamentally nature has provided a subjective experience. But in the same sense that we cannot directly observe wave/particles in action at the subatomic level and must devise intricate experiments to detect behaviors at that level of existence; neither can we observe subjective experience except our own personal subjectivity. Therefore we must use other means to deduce its existences in entities other than humans.
In the dyadic model perception and intentionality are dyadically coupled, that is to say they occur together. If one can discover the intentional behaviors in nature, then awareness will be present also. The rationale behind this coupling is: a) we experience both perception and intentionality at our level of organization, b) complexity theory points out the repeating patterns in nature at different scale sizes and at different levels of molecular complexity, c) awareness without an ability to respond, and intentionality without feedback of the results, would both be useless attributes, d) awareness and intentionality create a learning feedback loop which we do observe in nature. Thus it is both reasonably and experimentally verifiable that perception and intentionality are coupled. Once can observe with present day instrumentation behaviors in simple forms of nature that are neither random nor deterministic. Such behaviors are of necessity intentional, such as the search for food, mating opportunities, predator avoidance, etc. These behaviors are indicative if a volitional presence, and thereby are internal subjective experience.
It is necessary to be very specific about the meaning of “awareness” as proposed by the dyadic model. Homo sapiens experiences self-reflective awareness, meaning the ability to reflect upon the information content of our thoughts. The primates are perhaps on the edge of experiencing self reflection but certainly have a full measure of self-awareness. By self awareness I mean the ability to distinguish self from other, to experience an I/thou dualism. It is likely that self-awareness can be found in many, of not most, animals having multiple sensors and a brain. Below self-awareness is undifferentiated awareness which means the ability to perceive information and to react to that information but without a self concept. If the development of an individual traces the evolution of a species, then we may say that any fetus certainly has undifferentiated awareness. Self- awareness does not develop in the human child until several months after birth. How far down the evolutionary chain one can detect undifferentiated awareness is a valid area for research. The dyadic model suggests that undifferentiated awareness, or simple perception, is a more fundamental attribute of matter than life itself, and the crucial point is the distinction between reception and perception of information. If non random, non deterministic behavior can be observed within the degrees of freedom permitted matter by the conservation rules, perception can be inferred at that level of organization