Advances in Consciousness Research

The book discusses consciousness and several theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon. So far, no one has been able to explain how the brain creates consciousness, mainly because no way has been discovered to measure it. The book's main innovations are as follows:(1) A coherent treatment of two types of explanatory models relevant to consciousness. The first, a mechanistic model, is used in the natural sciences and has been accepted in psychology. The second, a mentalistic model, is based on the individual's inner world (e.g., will, belief, intention).(2) Description of a theoretical model which proposes that sensory stimulation is initially processed automatically and unconsciously, and explains the transition from non-conscious to conscious states and vice versa.(3) Provision of new arguments that explain why highly sophisticated computers or robots have not yet developed consciousness.(4) Discussion based on the concept of consciousness that explains why psychology has not developed in a way that is similar to the sciences (e.g., physics).