Can Consciousness Exist Without a Brain?

Lmao...it's extremely obvious in the "Blank Stares" when in the middle of a sentence or speech. The brain fog, and his loss of limb control, such as Ataxia or Parkinson's...maybe what is contributing to his loss of balance and limb control

Could be, Bethina.

Dementia is primarily characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions, including memory, reasoning, and the ability to perform daily tasks. However, the concept of "losing consciousness" in the context of dementia is nuanced and requires careful consideration.

While individuals with dementia do not typically "lose consciousness" in the traditional sense, they experience profound changes in awareness and cognitive function. The progression of the disease leads to varying levels of arousal and awareness, which can fluctuate significantly. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for providing compassionate care tailored to the needs of those affected by dementia.

Those who exhibit it will eventually lose sense of others and then sense of self. It is the reversal of theory of mind.
Rich

SPC Jeff Daley, PhD and progression of the different levels of dementia. Sometimes they do just "Space out" and it's commonly thought they are going through a depersonalization/derealization disorder/amnesia.
What doctors and scientist have discover is there is a buildup of "plaque" in the neuropathways, so the communication of the chemicals of your brain is not fully reaching the delivery points. Thus an overload of any one of the chemicals your brain produces. It's like it's being drowned in its own signaling chemicals...not to mention the receptors dying off.

Bethina Lee - While conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, catatonia, and PTSD/CPTSD can severely impact the quality and accessibility of consciousness, they do not negate the existence of consciousness itself. Each condition presents unique challenges that affect how individuals experience and interact with their own conscious awareness. The exploration of mental health disorders further illustrates the complexities and variations of conscious experience within a brain-dependent framework.

SPC Jeff Daley, PhD I agree with you 100%
I'm curious how much of an impact they make on the human psyche.

Have you per chance seen Elon Musk's neuralink ? I would love to hear your thoughts on this new technology.

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/30/ [login to see] /elon-musk-neuralink-implant-clinical-trial

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elon-musks-neuralink-has-implanted-its-first-chip-in-a-human-brain-whats-next/

Bethina Lee - The collaboration between psychology and neuroscience has led to advancements in mental health treatment. Insights from neuroscience have informed psychological theories about disorders like schizophrenia and depression, leading to more effective therapeutic interventions. For example, understanding the neural basis of addiction has paved the way for new treatment modalities that address both psychological and biological aspects of the disorder.

The psychological aspect of Elan Musk's Neuralink's brain-computer interface (BCI) technology focuses on restoring control to individuals with severe disabilities, such as quadriplegia. By enabling users to operate devices through thought. Neuralink aims to improve quality of life and provide a sense of agency that may have been lost due to their conditions. Imagine if this had been available for Stephen Hawking.

(BCI) technology has been trialed at the Phoenix VA. Specifically, a collaborative project involving Arizona State University and the Children’s Neuroscience Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital focuses on developing BCI systems to assist individuals with severe disabilities, including those caused by conditions like ALS and stroke. This project aims to create interfaces that allow users to control computers and other devices using their brain signals, enhancing communication and interaction with their environment. We had a veteran use the exoskeleton at the Phoenix VA who took his first few steps since his injuries in Afghanistan. A comment he made to his DPT after he stood up and beamed, was I thought you were taller. We all chuckled.

It's a positive break through in science but it is expensive. If I remember correctly the exo tech was in excess of $100K at that time.

SPC Jeff Daley, PhD LOL...that's awesome! One experiment that was on Discovery or Nat Geo, a patient suffered from a disabling clinical depression. With anxiety and other disorders attached. The psychiatrist & neurosurgeon had planted transmitters/chips within his brain at "Theoretically correct" places on and in his brain. Surprisingly they taped his responses and changes from day to day; medical vid journal. His recovery from the lethargy, profound depression, anxiety, etc..was absolutely phenomenal. The patient controlled the "Interfaces/chips" from his own PC.
One day he had forgotten to activate one string and was brought in for immediate observation. The moment the neurologist looked at the laptop and switched the string on....it was like watching an individual instantly cured. Kinda jealous of him though; the meds that I have to take have become so tedious. Planning on seeing a neurologist myself in the next 6 months or so...
That makes me smile..I've had many,
Many friends in wheelchairs and unable to walk...
This is just off the subject and I'm not going to mention any names...
A very good friend of mine had passed away and was confined to a wheelchair since the age of 16..
One night we had visited him and apparently "He" had taken LSD. The most bizarre thing happened; his legs would raise up off the wheelchair by theirselves, shaking and rising up by 2-4ft. His spinal cord was damaged beyond repair..it was a strange thought; when you had mentioned the gentleman above I thought about my friends