A recent Technology Review article, Big Brain Thinking, describes Stanford neuroscientist Bill Newsome’s quest to gain approval to implant an electrode in his brain to better understand human consciousness. Newsome want to implant an electrode in the area of the brain known as “MT”; he will then be able to report on what he is aware of when that brain area is stimulated. He has conducted similar experiments on non-human primates, but of course they aren’t able to describe what they experience.
Newsome isn’t certain he’ll get approval for this experiment. He notes that even if this procedure isn’t extremely risky, conducting the experiment might encourage other researchers to attempt more dangerous procedures.
I also posted about this story. I often stop to think about whether or not I would propose to do the same thing as Newsome. Given that him and I share the same heightened since of curiousity about human consciousness – I probably would.
The mind has always fascinated me, well, maybe not always. There were times when the complexity of its neural systems left me in the dust; and I would lose interest. However, as of two years ago – after studying the brain intensely, giving up is no longer an issue – its letting the mystery go unsolved.
I have to tip my hat to you for several posts on your website. They were well-written and often were more thought-provoking than what I’ve read thus far. Most media avoid the thought-provoking pieces and settle for the stories that have high level emotions and more “dynamic.”