Bridging the gap between consciousness and matter: recurrent out-of-body projection of visual awareness revealed by the law of non-identity.

The explanatory gap between consciousness and matter is partly due to a methodological trap in scientific research and incomplete logic. A new logical tool, the non-identity law derived from physics, is applied to analyze visual dynamics during naturalistic observation of a night-shot still life. The visual system has a postponed, recurrent out-of-body projection pathway from the brain back to the observed object, in addition to the known feedforward signaling pathway. This out-of-body projection, together with neural correlates of consciousness, bridges the gap between consciousness and matter. The finding suggests human consciousness involves subjectively imaging and projecting images outward, obeying certain rules rather than being unruly.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Consciousness is the most precious function of brain; however, there is an explanatory gap between consciousness and matter, which is deemed to affect the scientific research on consciousness. We believe that a methodological trap commonly present in scientific research and the incompleteness of logic are the true reasons that affect the research on consciousness. Here, a novel logic tool, the non-identity law, was extracted from physics and applied into the analysis of the visual dynamics related to naturalistic observation of night-shot still life, whose methodological approach is consistent with Descartes' matter-body-mind approach, breaking free from the methodological trap of current research. We show that visual system, the representative sensory system, has a postponed, recurrent out-of-body projection pathway from brain to observed object, besides the well-known feedforward signaling pathway available in existing literature, suggesting that human possesses an instinct of not only subjectively imaging (brain-generated imagery) but also projecting the image back onto the original or a particular place according to the clue of the manipulated afferent messenger light pathway. This finding adds a key piece of puzzle to the visual system. The out-of-body projection, coupled with neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), bridges the gap between consciousness and matter. This study in a self-contained and systematic manner provides a foundation for understanding the subjectivity and intentionality of human consciousness from the angle of visual awareness as well as the isomorphic relationships between unknowable original, private experience, and shareable expression (recording, calculus and deduction), showing that consciousness is obedient to certain rules rather than being unruly. The result paves the way for scientific research on consciousness and facilitates the integration of humanities and natural science.