MadSci Network: Neuroscience |
Earlier, I asked: "Is there evidence to suggest that it is possible (or impossible) to have two thoughts simultaneously? If so, and one of those thoughts is about the other thoughts, in which part(s) of the brain would those thoughts be taking place?" I received a reply referring me to answers to similar questions: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2003-01/1041821419.Ns.r.html However, this particular response relates to memory, rather than thought as an analytical process. It also groups together sense memories with conceptual thought. Further, habitual behaviors rely on the cerebral cortex, allowing them to operate on automatic pilot, w/o requiring multiple complex cognitive directives. That's different from conscious analytical reflection which, as I understand it, happens in the frontal cortex. The second response on http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2008-01/1200695819.Ns.r.html comes closer to the intent of my question in that it addresses aspects of attention and interpretation but it still does not answer my question. The fact that there is no evidence to disprove the possibility of two simultaneous thoughts does not indicate that it actually IS possible. As I understand it, functional brain imaging that links activity in a certain part of the brain to a specific task is spatially precise, but slow bc it relies on hemodynamic responses which have a 4-6 second delay. On the other hand, EEG's are temporally precise, but not spatially so. This wd make it difficult to determine whether we are rapidly switching back and forth btwn two thought processes, or whether two thought processes are ongoing at the same time. We know that it is possible to think about a thought retrospectively. What I'm looking for is scientific evidence for the possibility that we can reflect on (consciously think about) a thought while we are thinking that thought.
Re: Is it possible to have two thoughts at once? (resubmission)
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Neuroscience.