Why Don't We Have Intellectual Seizures?

Wilder Penfield

Penfield noted that intellectual function — abstract thought — could only be switched off by brain stimulation or a seizure, but it could never be switched on in like manner. The brain was necessary for abstract thought, normally, but it was not sufficient for it. Abstract thought was something other than merely a process of the brain.

This is the first time I ever recall seeing things phrased in just that way. Food for thought.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952329/


~~ Paul

That was interesting, and well above my pay grade. To the extent that I can follow it, the fact that the patient still recognized that there wasn't actually anything she had to do means Penfield's argument about mind is still relevant; a quick Google search suggests he was aware of this phenomenon, at least.

I think we sometimes have spontaneous bursts of intellect which implies that maybe there is a controllable mechanism somewhere.  Peak experiences are usually spontaneous or the result of spiritual practices but it is possible to induce them or at least increase the chances of spontaneously experiencing them.  Maybe intellect can work the same.   People who have taken cocaine seem to believe their intellect is increased because of it though I am not sure if there is any science to back this up.  I don't think however that info about the brain can tell us much about sentience and cognitive function.

[Edited to improve readability: Reduced font size from 7 to 4. -- Doug]

Through a number years of study in the ‘work’ of Gurdjieff and Opsensky and participating in a fourth-way group, I was able to perceive an increase in my own intelligence and ability to focus on a task for a long time. Most interestingly was an ability to penetrate into the core of a subject matter and learn it faster than I had ever done before. 

Mostly if I could summarise the problem that I had with learning things previously, was that I got bored easily and didn’t have the energy to put in the effort. After this interaction with such a group after years, I was able to ‘receive’ and process a subtler type of energy that one could find in life, and I also felt more power than before.

All very abstract stuff but Ospensky or Guedjieff talked about this very thing in “In search of the Miraculous”, how each organism needs food to survive, and that the food doesn’t necessarily have to a thing you physically ingest. One could receive these impressions/foods by learning how to extract the most pleasure out of the smallest things; a cup of tea on a cold winters morning and just sitting at peace in the moment, for example.

Another way to explain the process would be that a lot of the fourth way work was essentially about being aware of the meta situation, for each moment of your life, constantly and as often as you can bear. Being aware that you are aware, watching your mind going through whole loops and ‘programmes’ that are run simply through an external stimulus, and thus developing in this way, an independent observer, that is free.

Eventually I got to the stage where I had trouble sleeping normally like everyone else as I began to be aware of the exact moment I was falling asleep and experiencing some very very strong vibrations and sensations!

Now I’m more normal and enjoy life more; gurdjieff and most of the gnostic/esoteric Christianity thing is far too restricting for my being, though at the time I really benefited from spending my early adult years  in that worldview.

That was interesting, and well above my pay grade. To the extent that I can follow it, the fact that the patient still recognized that there wasn't actually anything she had to do means Penfield's argument about mind is still relevant; a quick Google search suggests he was aware of this phenomenon, at least.

Of course, it's possible we simply don't know how to do it yet. I don't think it implies anything about the way the mind works.

~~ Paul

And sorry, no idea why my post appears like that! Copied and pasted from my notepad on My iPhone as the text Box native to the forum slows down wayyyyyy to much to use after a certain number of characters!

And sorry, no idea why my post appears like that! Copied and pasted from my notepad on My iPhone as the text Box native to the forum slows down wayyyyyy to much to use after a certain number of characters!

You can edit it to clean it up.

~~ Paul

You can edit it to clean it up.

~~ Paul

Figured it out! Working at sea on the 0000-0400 watch screws up ones mind a bit 

Figured it out! Working at sea on the 0000-0400 watch screws up ones mind a bit 

A little? I'd be a zombie.

~~ Paul