Do cortical midline variability and low frequency fluctuations mediate William James' "Stream of Consciousness"? "Neurophenomenal Balance Hypothesis" of "Inner Time Consciousness".

William James described consciousness as a 'stream' with 'substantive parts' (the contents of consciousness) and 'transitive parts' (the linkages between contents). While much research has focused on substantive parts, the neural basis of transitive parts and how they balance 'sensible continuity' and 'continuous change' in inner time consciousness remains unclear. This paper develops a neuro-phenomenal hypothesis proposing that cortical midline structures, with their high variability and strong low-frequency fluctuations, mediate this phenomenal balance.

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Abstract

William James famously characterized consciousness by 'stream of consciousness' which describes the temporal continuity and flow of the contents of consciousness in our 'inner time consciousness'. More specifically he distinguished between "substantive parts", the contents of consciousness, and "transitive parts", the linkages between different contents. While much research has recently focused on the substantive parts, the neural mechanisms underlying the transitive parts and their characterization by the balance between 'sensible continuity' and 'continuous change' remain unclear. The aim of this paper is to develop so-called neuro-phenomenal hypothesis about specifically the transitive parts and their two phenomenal hallmark features, sensible continuity and continuous change in 'inner time consciousness'. Based on recent findings, I hypothesize that the cortical midline structures and their high degree of variability and strong low frequency fluctuations play an essential role in mediating the phenomenal balance between sensible continuity and continuous change.