Are We Just a Bunch of Neurons? ( Local vs Non-Local Consciousness)

Consciousness is an abstract topic that is still much in the unknown. It is no wonder that it interests minds of all perspectives, after all isn't it what we are?

Much of the scientific field sticks to a more materialistic world view that translates to the nature of consciousness. In this world view consciousness is local to the brain meaning that the whole of who we are is tied to our brains and physical bodies. In the local consciousness model, the brain produces our conscious experience and then yes, we are just a bunch of beautiful neurons.

However, it is important to consider that contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that consciousness is produced by the brain. That being said, neuroscience offers studies of Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC). These set a minimum amount of neural activity required for a certain conscious experience. NCCs tie in closely with parts of the brain like the cerebral cortex and in a more recent study from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, a more specific part of the cerebral cortex, the posterior cortical hot zone which is associated with sensory information.

The cerebral cortex is made of complexly folded neural tissue and neuroscience says that by looking at the complexity, excitement, and communication of neurons in these areas, it can be determined whether a person is conscious. When it came to the study of dreaming and consciousness, scientists could tell a conscious dreaming experience versus an unconscious state by looking at neural activity in the posterior hot zone. Therefore when a person is put under anesthesia, they are termed unconscious because neural communication is sabotaged.

Beyond neural links to consciousness, there is not much else thus far supporting the materialistic world view of consciousness. The branch of science that may blend more into a non-materialistic world view is non other than quantum physics. Quantum physics compels the brightest of minds to consider consciousness as an extension of fundamental phenomena observed at the quantum level. One such phenomena is quantum entanglement which puts non-locality at the basis of quantum physics. So why couldn't this non-locality apply to another fundamental aspect of our reality, consciousness?

Here begins the divide of world views from materialistic local-consciousness to a more spiritually accepted non-local consciousness.

Here are a few quotes from Max Planck, the originator of quantum theory, and Erwin Schrodinger, a great contributor to the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.

"I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness." - Max Planck

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“Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else.” - Erwin Schrodinger

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“The total number of minds in the universe is one. In fact, consciousness is a singularity phasing within all beings.” - Erwin Schrodinger

And of course, we can't forget Nikola Tesla:

“My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength, and inspiration. I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know that it exists.”- Nikola Tesla

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“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence“ - Nikola Tesla

Non- Local consciousness is a fascinating model complying with ancient Vedanta philosophy defining consciousness as an omnipresent field of awareness which spans space and time. In this model the brain would act as a transmitter or as Tesla said, a "receiver" of consciousness rather than the creator of it.

The evidence for non-local consciousness spans into the likes of parapsychology and metaphysics. These terms may draw skeptics away, however it is important to consider the following in a genuine pursuit of truth. Skepticism is not ignorance.

From 1972-1975 Hal Puthoff and Russel Targ, both respected physicists, became involved in a CIA remote viewing research project code named the Stargate project.

Countless tests which can be found on the online CIA library proved that remote viewing is a real and accurate tool used to view objects, locations, or people through the non-locality of consciousness. The United States Armed Forces recruited remote viewer, Joseph McMoneagle, he later received a Legion of Merit Award through providing information otherwise unavailable through remote viewing.

In 1966, Dr. Charles Theodore Tart ran an Out of Body Experience (OBE) experiment featuring test subject, Miss Z. Every night Mr. Tart would randomly pick a 5 digit number and put it on a shelf above Miss Z with precautions taken to ensure no way of her seeing the number. On Night 4 Miss Z finally was able to float up to the top shelf and as she woke up, she recalled the number: 25132. It was correct.

Dr. Kenneth Ring is a psychologist who studies the blind in relation to Near Death Experiences (NDEs). He has many publications featuring a plethora of accounts of blind patients in hospitals becoming clinically dead for a short period and upon returning recalling a visual and auditory experience of floating above the operating room. Some of the patients report floating up floors of the hospital or up to the roof and seeing objects out of place. Later these objects are recovered following the description of the patient. This wouldn't be possible in a local consciousness model as at the time the patient would be clinically dead, therefore unconscious.

The following video summarizes the above material and dives deeper into the evidence provided behind non-local consciousness. Links are provided to additional resources.

Note that this video has more bias towards non-local consciousness based off of experiential factors and the resources provided.

The very fact that we are conscious (or consciousness itself) is a beautiful miracle, for how else would the universe be experienced?