> While the researchers were certain the disembodied brains did not regain consciousness
I'm curious how they were able to verify this. I am under the (perhaps incorrect?) impression that consciousness is neither well defined nor a binary function.
I'm curious how they were able to verify this. I am under the (perhaps incorrect?) impression that consciousness is neither well defined nor a binary function.
I assume, given what they say in the article, that the pig brain activity in the experiment was somewhere close to the activity of a dead brain or a brain in a coma.
They also explained that the blood-replacement they used contain a lot of inhibitive substances probably preventing the brains from being active even if they could.
> After initially shocking results indicating the brains were partially conscious – which later turned out to be mistaken – the scientists concluded they were producing a flat brain wave comparable with someone in a comatose state.
> “That animal brain is not aware of anything, I am very confident of that,” said Dr Sestan.
I mean what does a brain do with absolutely no external stimulus at all?
the tl;dr is that a healthy brain produces a significant amount of activity, even absent of sensory stimulation.
https://www.quora.com/What-happens-in-the-brain-during-senso...
This is fascinating research.
I'd imagine its pretty hard to be certain that a brain-dead person can't perceive his or her surroundings, however.
Could you find a link perhaps? I Googled the end of what I just quoted but didn't find anything...
Consider how we can feel physical sensations in dreams without any physical source, or “phantom limbs” that amputees are sometimes said to feel.