Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought [Hardcover]

Richard M. Pico (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2001

In Consciousness in Four Dimensions, neuropsychiatrist Richard Pico puts forth a bold new hypothesis for the origins of human consciousness. Drawing on twenty years of his own experimental and clinical work, as well as his training in physics, Pico proposes that the origins of thought can be pinpointed in the brain within the context of a theory of biological relativity. The theory is first illustrated with the emergence of life, whereby the first cell cohered and endured against the background flux of organic compounds, becoming its own four-dimensional frame of reference. The same model is applied to consciousness, which emerges in the prefrontal cortex when sensory information converges with input from the memory system in a series of modules. Thought exists above a flicker-fusion threshold, when the information that is passed from module to module is seen to endure in its own four-dimensional frame of reference, without degradation and without reference to the external three-dimensional environment. From this exquisitely complex iterative process, Pico proposes that all higher order human functions are built, from language to mathematics to music. This biological relativity model of consciousness is strongly materialistic, which places it in the company of the work of such thinkers as Steven Pinker, Daniel Dennett, and Antonio Damasio. Yet it is also completely original. Several theorizers, such as Fred Alan Wolf and Roger Penrose have proposed quantum theories of consciousness, but Pico is the only person applying relativity to the brain. With meticulous precision and admirable compassion, Pico places his theory in the context of other theories of consciousness, and explores its implications. He discusses why he thinks consciousness is uniquely human, how it can be seen to arise in individuals at about the age of two, and what it means when its development goes awry in the devastating "thought disorders" with which he has had so much experience as a clinician.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A bold and brilliant new theory of the origins and nature of the human mind

In a book that will profoundly alter the modern discourse on mind and influence the practice of neuromedicine, neuroscientist/psychiatrist Richard M. Pico unveils a revolutionary new approach to understanding consciousness that pinpoints the origins of consciousness in the human brain. Pico seamlessly weds the laws of physics­­especially Einstein's laws of relativity­­to the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience, molecular biology, and computational theory to create a coherent, four-dimensional model of the origins of life and the emergence of complex biological systems, from the first protocell, to the thinking brain. Along the way, he offers insights into the uniquely human capacity to use language, make music, and formulate complex mathematical descriptions of the natural world, while challenging some of our most cherished illusions, including those of free will and self-control.

In a work of profound insight and erudition, an intellectual feast and a mind-bending excursion to the outer limits of the knowable, Consciousness in Four Dimensions tells a riveting story that begins in Earth's imponderably distant past, when a primordial protocell endured long enough to become an independent, living frame of reference. Extrapolating from Einstein's theories, Dr. Pico explains that it was with this singular event, that evolution - ­­the eternal struggle between entropy and order - ­­gave rise to the first four-dimensional biological reference system, remote from the ebb and flow of the inorganic world around it. Pico describes how this event was the first step in the slow march of evolution which, over vast stretches of time, led to the appearance of neurons, brains, and the emergence of nature's most complex reference system­ - consciousness.

Drawing upon 20 years of experimental and clinical work, Dr. Pico takes us deep inside the lush ecosystem of the human body and nervous system to provide a fascinating glimpse of the dizzingly complex dance of organic processes out of which consciousness emerges. He lays bare the intricate neurological structures and processes that give rise to sensation, perception, emotion, and thought, and, in the process, he challenges some of our most cherished beliefs about free will, self-control, and the eternal "I." Pico further elaborates his theory through discussions of the origins of language, music, and mathematics. And he explores the causes and potential treatments for a variety of thought disorders.

With unflagging scientific precision Richard Pico clears the field of fashionable metaphysical explanations of consciousness to offer the most persuasive argument thus far for consciousness as an emergent property of quantifiable biophysical processes. Yet, by the conclusion of Consciousness in Four Dimensions what emerges is not a cold deconstruction of humankind and its limitations, but a staunchly humanistic vision of life and an impassioned defense of individualism and human freedom and dignity.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 399 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies; 1st edition (October 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071354999
• ISBN-13: 978-0071354998
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #613,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a physicial model of consciousness!, November 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought (Hardcover)

This book is the first of it's kind to actually define the physical nature of consciousness - it's evolution, limitations and uniqueness - without equivocation. From the underlying principles to the profound implications, the author presents his model with clarity and rigor. He introduces us to the principle of Biological Relativity, a seamless extension of Einstein's powerful vision of the universe, penetrating the biological world. With this insightful 4-dimensional frame-of-reference perspective the author sheds new light on the evolution of life. WITH NEW EYES we are shown the development of cellular life in terms of spatial order and time; the evolution of cellular life to multicellular organisms and the specialized cells that compose our nervous systems; the higher order functions of mammalian brains; and, finally, the development of consciousness, again, in terms of spatial order and time. A fascinating tour of our natural world! In the final chapters of the book, the author reflects on the consequences and implications of his model. Unlike most books on consciousness, the conclusions follow naturally and logically from the model and draw clear lines through age old debates about free will, animal consciousness and artificial intelligence. This work sets a new standard for books on consciousness. Finally.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank goodness for my PIMs, February 2, 2004

By 

Anthony L Bonillo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought (Hardcover)

What a great book!

I have never seen so clear a presentation of the mechanics of consciousness. Don't expect an explanation of qualia, but everything but that is included in this book.

Actually, the book is more original than I made it seem above. Pico makes an analogy between Einstein's allowing us to better understand gravity via his theories of relativity in 4 dimensions and the ability to see how our consciousness works by viewing the brain's functions in 4 dimensions.

His main point, I believe, was that unless one understands the proper frame of reference from which to view and analyze phenomena of consciousness we will not understand why the human brain so differs from the brains of even our nearest relatives. Further, we will not understand the narrative that we maintain that allows us to have a self. Certain brain changes have allowed a necessary holding space for afferent input (from senses and from memory stores) that holds info just long enough to allow efferent response that allows us to plod moment to moment in a line, so to speak.

One very interesting point that Pico makes is about a distinction between ape and human consciousness. He believes that the human brain alone has this ability to create a narrative, and that this new function is a SMALL change from ape brain structure. While apes may not have this similar ability to have the narrative, they almost certainly sense the qualia of the world in a way that is very similar if not identical to that of human beings. It is just that there is no moment to moment story in the ape brain. The only way that a moment to moment story to be allowed to nonhuman brains is when there is some aspect of the environment that, because of its properties, holds the context constant. Apes that know sign language, or African grays that can identify colors -- these can do these things only if there is a constant environment that can maintain a place holder, so to speak.

But the human brain has such a place keeping ability without needed a constant context.

READ THIS BOOK. NOW.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Biological Relativity: Is it real?, July 23, 2008

By 

Rama Rao "Rama" (Annandale, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought (Hardcover)

Space and time run parallel in the universe, but in presence of matter they bend (curve) proportional to the mass of the object as predicted by theory of relativity resulting in gravitational effect. Light passing through spacetime bend wherever the spacetime dimension is bent.

Life and consciousness run parallel like space and time. Biological consciousness, at the most fundamental form of life exists in a primitive state, but evolves into complex form in the upper region of the evolutionary ladder. Consciousness is a collection, processing, storage, and communication of information in spacetime of life. Likewise life also collects, process, and communicates information in a 4D spacetime. The biochemical and biophysical processes that perform the functions of life is unique form of matter where laws of thermodynamics are intricately preserved. The Second law requiring increasing entropy, and increasing order required for a living cell is derived by the evolution of unique structure; cell compartmentization, nesting, and segregation of functions (cell organelles), membrane bound enzymes, multienzyme complexes, coupled reactions, metal mediated enzyme reactions, and use of stored chemical energy instead of electrical energy are uniquely evolved so that cell (life) could exist independently and perform its functions in coherence with consciousness. A living cell is characterized by cell division, reproduction and thus carrying the blue print of the parent in genetic code. Thus a star can not be a living being even though it is born, then grows, matures, dies, and requires fuel (hydrogen) to feed on to generate energy and for independent existence.

In this book the author presents a strange analogy between life & consciousness with the theory of relativity. In this comparison he visualizes matter and energy (gravity) referred to as inorganic universe, and the life forms referred to as organic universe, and consciousness, evolved during the course of evolution as three independent frames of references in four dimensional spacetime (4D; three space & one time dimensions). In this model of biological relativity the consciousness and life which are related to internal world of sensory experience and brain function creates reality. The 4D reality is a result of continuous information gathering, processing, storage, recollection and application; the referent system emerging from neural activity is referred to as consciousness. This book concentrates mainly on human consciousness with a discussion of structure and function of human brain and central nervous system, although there are some discussions about consciousness in other nonhuman non-primate life forms. The authors contention that biological relativity is a unique feature is little confusing. The process of sensation, perception, and emotion, learning, memory, thought, etc., are all information processing mechanisms and visualizing them as frame of reference does not make sense because they are all information processing and communicating mechanisms in 4D spacetime.

1. The 4th Dimension and Beyond: Imagining Worlds with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 Dimensions and More
2. Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life (Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology)
3. Travels in Four Dimensions: The Enigmas of Space and Time
4. Geometry Of Four Dimensions - Illustrated
5. A First Course in General Relativity
6. General Relativity
7. Quantum Gravity in Four Dimensions