Evidence from Evidence from the Cognitive the Cognitive

Sciences Sciences James A. Van SlykeJames A. Van Slyke

From the Soul to the From the Soul to the BrainBrain

Sciences and Human NatureSciences and Human Nature Cognitive NeuroscienceCognitive Neuroscience Characteristics of the soul linked with Characteristics of the soul linked with

particular brain areasparticular brain areas No place in the brain specialized for No place in the brain specialized for

interacting with the soulinteracting with the soul No “Cartesian Theatre”No “Cartesian Theatre”

Thomas Thomas AquinasAquinas

Three parts of the soulThree parts of the soul RationalRational

Intellect – Active and PassiveIntellect – Active and Passive WillWill

Animal or SensitiveAnimal or Sensitive Locomotion, appetite, sensation, Locomotion, appetite, sensation,

emotionemotion VegetativeVegetative

Reproduction, nutrition, growthReproduction, nutrition, growth Body Body

Aquinas on the BrainAquinas on the Brain

LocomotionLocomotion Motor cortex + Motor cortex +

pathways to pathways to muscles throughout muscles throughout the bodythe body

SensationSensation Somatosensory Somatosensory

Cortex – directly Cortex – directly behind motor behind motor cortexcortex

Aquinas on the BrainAquinas on the Brain

EmotionEmotion Amygdala – implicit aspects of emotionAmygdala – implicit aspects of emotion

Emotional valence to memoriesEmotional valence to memories Fight or flight responseFight or flight response

Cingulate Cortex – emotional Cingulate Cortex – emotional attachmentattachment Mothering instinctsMothering instincts Damage leads to decreases in empathyDamage leads to decreases in empathy

Aquinas on the BrainAquinas on the Brain

Other areasOther areas Language – Broca’s and Wernicke’s Language – Broca’s and Wernicke’s Vision – Occipital LobeVision – Occipital Lobe Identifying ObjectsIdentifying Objects

Where? – Parietal LobeWhere? – Parietal Lobe What? – Temporal LobeWhat? – Temporal Lobe Two pathways beginning in the occipital Two pathways beginning in the occipital

lobelobe

The Famous Case of The Famous Case of Phineas GagePhineas Gage

Before accidentBefore accident Intelligent Intelligent capable workercapable worker excellent managerexcellent manager responsible family manresponsible family man upstanding citizenupstanding citizen

After Accident After Accident Maintained his general intelligenceMaintained his general intelligence Unreliable and capriciousUnreliable and capricious Socially InappropriateSocially Inappropriate Lost his family and fortuneLost his family and fortune

Reconstruction

of the Skull

of Phineas Gage

From Hana Damasio et al., “The Return of Phineas Gage: Clues about the brain from the skull of a famous patient” Science. 1994, 264, 1102-1105.

Case of Elliott – DamasioCase of Elliott – Damasio beforebefore

good husband and fathergood husband and father high level job at business firmhigh level job at business firm had attained an enviable social statushad attained an enviable social status

post surgery, tumor removed in orbital post surgery, tumor removed in orbital frontal areafrontal area irresponsibleirresponsible unable to manage his timeunable to manage his time flawed decision makingflawed decision making Divorced; entered unwise marriage Divorced; entered unwise marriage lost his joblost his job

Case of Elliot Case of Elliot

Laboratory test results Laboratory test results maintained superior IQ (WAIS)maintained superior IQ (WAIS) flawless memoryflawless memory superior language abilitysuperior language ability normal on lab tests of financial and normal on lab tests of financial and

ethical decision makingethical decision making normal lab ability to generate solutions normal lab ability to generate solutions

to social problems to social problems Could predict social consequences Could predict social consequences

Gambling game Gambling game Test of decisions and consequencesTest of decisions and consequences

Gambling GameGambling Game normal individuals develop anticipatory normal individuals develop anticipatory

evaluative autonomic response (mini emotional evaluative autonomic response (mini emotional response) first to choosing form the bad deck, response) first to choosing form the bad deck, and eventually to the thought of so choosing. and eventually to the thought of so choosing.

Differential autonomic reasons develop prior Differential autonomic reasons develop prior to conscious awareness of the game’s to conscious awareness of the game’s contingenciescontingencies

Elliot was never able to develop a Elliot was never able to develop a discriminatory anticipation while choosing discriminatory anticipation while choosing from the bad decks from the bad decks

Gambling Game Performance of Patients with Damage to the Orbital Frontal Cortex

From A. Bechara et al., Science, 1997, 275, 1293-1295.

Theory of Somatic Theory of Somatic MarkersMarkers

Experiences with the contingencies of life Experiences with the contingencies of life cause development of anticipatory cause development of anticipatory evaluative (negative or positive) evaluative (negative or positive) autonomic response which are coupled to autonomic response which are coupled to knowledge. knowledge.

These autonomic response guides These autonomic response guides behavioral choices in ways that are often behavioral choices in ways that are often not directly available to consciousnessnot directly available to consciousness

Individuals with orbital frontal brain Individuals with orbital frontal brain damage have knowledge de-coupled form damage have knowledge de-coupled form the autonomic response systemthe autonomic response system

Declarative Memory Declarative Memory ProcessesProcesses

Declarative memory: memories available Declarative memory: memories available as facts, events, or specific stimulias facts, events, or specific stimuli Where I parked my car this morningWhere I parked my car this morning People with anterograde amnesia are unable People with anterograde amnesia are unable

to talk about their experiences following to talk about their experiences following brain damagebrain damage

Nondeclarative memory: stimulus-Nondeclarative memory: stimulus-response and motor memories that response and motor memories that control behaviors at an unconscious control behaviors at an unconscious levellevel How I am able to ride a bicycleHow I am able to ride a bicycle

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Hippocampal Damage Hippocampal Damage and and AmnesiaAmnesia

Severe anterograde amnesia follows Severe anterograde amnesia follows bilateralbilateral damage to the hippocampus damage to the hippocampus Patient H.M. suffered from severe epilepsyPatient H.M. suffered from severe epilepsy Following surgery, H.M. showed severe Following surgery, H.M. showed severe

anterograde amnesiaanterograde amnesia No retention for events that have occurred No retention for events that have occurred

since 1953since 1953 Can recall events that occurred prior to 1953Can recall events that occurred prior to 1953 H.M.’s amnesia was attributed to hippocampal H.M.’s amnesia was attributed to hippocampal

damagedamage

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MRI scan of hippocampus (in red)MRI scan of hippocampus (in red)

Hippocampus

HippocampusHippocampus

Cognitive Sciences and Cognitive Sciences and the Mindthe Mind

Neuropsychology of Religious Neuropsychology of Religious ExperiencesExperiences Brain images of Tibetan Buddhists and Brain images of Tibetan Buddhists and

Franciscan NunsFranciscan Nuns Increased activity in frontal lobe and right Increased activity in frontal lobe and right

parietal lobe during meditationparietal lobe during meditation Brain is quite active in a specialized way Brain is quite active in a specialized way

during religious experienceduring religious experience