Salience in cognitive science

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Maarten2
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Salience in cognitive science

Post by Maarten2 »

I thought there would be an interesting relation between the concept of saliency in cognitive science and the concept of a consciousness in Buddhism.
When attention deployment is driven by salient stimuli, it is considered to be bottom-up, memory-free, and reactive. Attention can also be guided by top-down, memory-dependent, or anticipatory mechanisms, such as when looking ahead of moving objects or sideways before crossing streets. Humans and other animals have difficulty paying attention to more than one item simultaneously, so they are faced with the challenge of continuously integrating and prioritizing different bottom-up and top-down influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salience_(neuroscience" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Could it be that mindfulness is the same as prioritizing bottom-up influences?
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Cittasanto
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by Cittasanto »

Maarten2 wrote:I thought there would be an interesting relation between the concept of saliency in cognitive science and the concept of a consciousness in Buddhism.
When attention deployment is driven by salient stimuli, it is considered to be bottom-up, memory-free, and reactive. Attention can also be guided by top-down, memory-dependent, or anticipatory mechanisms, such as when looking ahead of moving objects or sideways before crossing streets. Humans and other animals have difficulty paying attention to more than one item simultaneously, so they are faced with the challenge of continuously integrating and prioritizing different bottom-up and top-down influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salience_(neuroscience" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Could it be that mindfulness is the same as prioritizing bottom-up influences?
Doubtful, more like the top-down as mindfulness is memory.
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
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daverupa
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by daverupa »

There are other models of consciousness which may be more useful: dynamic core hypothesis, global neuronal workspace model, & time-locked multiregional retroactivation (this one in particular offers interesting directions of inquiry in terms of understanding sati), to name a few.

Have a look here for a good introduction.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by Modus.Ponens »

Hi Dave

Thanks for bringing scholarpedia to my knowledge!

be well :)

:focus:
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
rowyourboat
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by rowyourboat »

Is there any known link to quantum mechanics, to the brain?
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Kim OHara
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by Kim OHara »

rowyourboat wrote:Is there any known link to quantum mechanics, to the brain?
It comes up here fairly regularly (search "quantum site:dhammawheel.com" and you get 300 results) but the answer seems to be "no".
It's a pity, really, because it is such an attractive idea ...

:namaste:
Kim
suttametta
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by suttametta »

Maarten2 wrote:I thought there would be an interesting relation between the concept of saliency in cognitive science and the concept of a consciousness in Buddhism.
When attention deployment is driven by salient stimuli, it is considered to be bottom-up, memory-free, and reactive. Attention can also be guided by top-down, memory-dependent, or anticipatory mechanisms, such as when looking ahead of moving objects or sideways before crossing streets. Humans and other animals have difficulty paying attention to more than one item simultaneously, so they are faced with the challenge of continuously integrating and prioritizing different bottom-up and top-down influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salience_(neuroscience" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Could it be that mindfulness is the same as prioritizing bottom-up influences?
Absolutely yes, for the Arhat, as in Buddha's instructions in the Bahiya Sutta: "With reference to the seen there will only be the seen." This is really "unmindfulness." Remembering not to churn up the memories and fantasies.
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rowboat
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Re: Salience in cognitive science

Post by rowboat »

Kim O'Hara wrote:
rowyourboat wrote:Is there any known link to quantum mechanics, to the brain?
It comes up here fairly regularly (search "quantum site:dhammawheel.com" and you get 300 results) but the answer seems to be "no".
It's a pity, really, because it is such an attractive idea ...

:namaste:
Kim
Hi RYB, Kim,

Roger Penrose implies there may in fact be a link worth investigating:
Abstract: Brain action is both physically controlled and beyond computational simulation. Accordingly, there is a strong case for examining brain organization in a way that specifically seeks out structures in the brain that might plausibly support such putative non-computational action at the ill-understood borderline between quantum and classical physics. Thus, we must seek out structures in the brain where the actual physics that operates at this level could plausibly have important influence on brain action. This is the basis of the Orch-OR model that Stuart Hameroff and I have been proposing, and which he describes in the foregoing article. The case is strongly put forward that the neuronal microtubules play a key role in the required quantum/classical borderline activities which might have an essential relevance to the phenomenon of consciousness. The exploration of such deeper level of neuronal structure and function is very much a continuation of the line of work so wonderfully initiated by Cajal.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... edMessage=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To investigate this subject further I'd suggest one search under the terms "consciousness" and "non-locality".
Rain soddens what is covered up,
It does not sodden what is open.
Therefore uncover what is covered
That the rain will not sodden it.
Ud 5.5
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