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The unconscious cannot decide and move on to the next step.

Writer's picture: Hatsuo YamadaHatsuo Yamada

Updated: May 29, 2022

By studying "Study of Consciousness", I would like to think about coaching theory, such as rewriting my unconsciousness.


This series of blog posts are my study notes.

 

What would you do if you were asked to "mental arithmetic 12x13"?

One is to calculate 122 = 144 and add 2.

Even if you don't write it on paper, some people will calculate it in their heads.


This story is not about mental arithmetic.

Simple calculations like 3 + 5 don't remember the calculation process,

In the case of relatively complicated calculations such as 12x13, which are not usually done, how you did the procedure is memorable. Evidence that consciousness is involved.


I don't remember how the simple face recognition, procedure setting, single-digit addition, word selection, etc. Such a simple process is an unconscious area.


The "algorithm" formed by combining several basic steps seems to be a unique function of consciousness acquired through evolution.


It seems that the brain has a function like a "router" that enables a flexible exchange of information with internal routines.


Gathering information from various processors, integrating it, and broadcasting the results to several other processors is considered one of the consciousness's primary functions.


Each processor that receives information from consciousness applies unconscious technology to perform a series/parallel mixing process.

At the stage where large-scale parallel processing is executed, the stage where serial processing such as decision making and information route control is performed is sandwiched.


A production system equipped with artificial intelligence consists of a database, also known as "working memory," and many "if-then" rules.


At each step, the production system checks whether each rule fits into the current working memory state.

If multiple rules are met, they compete under a prioritizing system, which determines the priorities.


Finally, the rule that gained priority will rewrite the contents of the working memory before the process restarts.

In this way, the series of steps becomes a serial circulation process of "unconscious competition-> conscious ignition-> simultaneous transmission".


There is a practical example that tried the following straightforward algorithm.

Take the number n and add 2 (n + 2).

Determine if the result is greater than or less than 5 ((n + 2)> 5?).

Subjects were observed to see any interference as they performed this algorithm.

The subject unknowingly began to compare the first numbers n and five before the intermediate result they "n + 2" obtained.


Computers do not make such mistakes.

On the other hand, the brain has not evolved to perform complex calculations, so let's make the above mistakes.


We humans use the power of consciousness to control the flow of information while slowly following the steps when performing a series of serial calculations.


Calculations such as "(3 + 2) +2", "(3 + 2) --1", and "1 / (3 + 2)" cannot be performed unknowingly.

Calculations that require multiple steps always require the work of consciousness.


Mask and flash the target number n so that it is visible in only half a trial,

We asked the subjects to perform the following calculations.

The experiment was the following four tasks.

  1. "Name" to guess what n is

  2. Add 2 to n "n +2"

  3. Comparing n to 5 "n> 5"

  4. Add 2 and compare with 5, "n + 2> 5"


For tasks 1-3, subjects performed well beyond the chance level.

Even in the case where he reported that he had not seen anything, he could answer by forcibly asking for an answer, so they could not hide their surprise in the degree of unconscious knowledge they had.

I could guess a number that I couldn't see with a much higher probability than by chance.


The unconscious cannot make clear decisions in the decision-making process, as it is passed on to the next stage.

The accumulators of the brain are certainly affected by unconscious information, but they cannot make decisions and move on to the next step.


So in complex calculations, the unconscious stays at the stage of accumulating the evidence needed for the first operation and cannot move on to the next.

The general conclusion is that you cannot think strategically with unconscious intuition.


As a result of these experiments, it was found that the role of consciousness is the following three points.

  • To solve the problem by rational thinking, the work of consciousness is necessary.

  • The unconscious process can follow a rational strategy in which consciousness progresses step by step.

  • The unconscious can control the passing of information between arbitrary continuous processes.

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