Psychedelic-information-theory-Shamanism-in-the-age-of-Reason

function of recall is to analyze patterns stored in memory to informintelligent decisions and behaviors in real time.BehaviorA conscious system performs behaviors based on input. Humanbehavior takes the form of both internal and external actions. Internalbehaviors, such as thinking thoughts and feeling emotions, transformmemory and recall into logical decisions; external behaviors translateinternal decisions into outward actions. Human behavior is linear andserial; behaviors are performed in sequence one at a time, typically withthoughts and emotions preceding and informing the intent of action.Both internal and external behaviors feed back into perception, closingthe loop on the perceptual feedback process.Operating Properties of ConsciousnessWhen all of the functions of consciousness are up and running thesystem begins to take on certain familiar operating properties. Thesebasic properties are what we would expect from any conscious system,and any conscious system that loses these properties will also becomeunstable and lose fidelity of perception and memory.Modular CoherenceIn order to perform like a seamless, integrated system,consciousness must have some means of synchronizing performancebetween modular sub-functions. Functional cooperation betweendifferent areas of the brain is measured in terms of coupled neuraloscillators, neural spike synchrony, and coherence of networkoscillations. 7 Waking consciousness oscillates within the alpha and betaranges; high frequency gamma coherence is associated with the fastbinding of cortical networks necessary for perception andconsciousness. 8 Modular coherence is the first operating property of aconscious system; precise timing between all areas is necessary formultisensory integration. Without coherence the modular subfunctionsof consciousness lose interoperability and destabilize.