A
number of observable phenomena would be expected from a consciousness
made up of the interactions constantly occurring in electric
fields. Several should be considered persuasive, and are the
reasons why I even came up with such a model in the first place.
However any model of consciousness needs something more than persuasive
phenomena leading to the creation of a model, it also needs the means
to quantitatively test the model utilizing scientific criteria.
In line with this, several of the most important persuasive
observations are listed first, ending up with the most important test
of this model as well as what may eventually allow us to understand the
psyche with more precision and detail than has been the case heretofore.
Seamless connections across the conscious sections of our
minds. The effects of electric fields would not be limited in
direction or in the size of the interacting dynamics in the electric
fields.
Lack of long-range effects from the individual components
making up the electrical fields. While short-range effects can
tie together huge areas into interacting electric fields, and thus
consciousness (in this model, certainly) the fall-off of discrete
effects from a particular action potential would keep it from affecting
areas it should not affect. Some long-range effects should be
possible from increased activity in a region of the brain, but these
would not be very specific in their effects.
Interactions between qualia. Colors would interact
with colors, sounds with sounds, and if in close enough proximity,
sounds could interact with colors. Being tied to robust nerve
impulses, the information in the fields would not be smeared out or
compromised, but could be subtly altered through timing. These
interactions do appear to occur a great deal in consciousness.
Harmonic--and disharmonic--interactions between qualia,
especially sound qualia, could readily be supported by electric
fields. Presumably this would tend to re-inforce the signal of
harmonic, ordered information against the backdrop of noise.
The true test, however, of a model such as the one I
propose, is that the information expected to be in the electric fields
would also show up in consciousness. By various means and methods
we should be able to measure the data existing within the electric
fields of the brain and to compare it with the information in the
first-person accounts of consciousness reported by the test
subjects. Such a comparison may not be especially easy to do, yet
it should be possible through proxy (the same information in the nerves
would be in the electric fields, if not in the same relationship with
other information) and may very well be possible through direct
measurement of the electric fields in some select cases.
Because the rules governing information are well-known, being
principally the "laws" of thermodynamics, the sources and dynamics of
conscious information are theoretically entirely amenable to
calculation and empirical research. This makes research into the
"electric consciousness" fully scientific in theory, and something that
only awaits practical implementation to enter the practice of science
as well. Not only does this give us the ability to test this
particular model of consciousness, but also should give to us better
means of understanding and studying the mind and its conscious and
unconscious parts, so long as this model is supported by rigorous
quantitative observation and experimentation.
