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Consciousness Studies at The University of Arizona

Understanding the intimate mystery of conscious experience has become an increasingly popular endeavor. Scientists, philosophers and humanists from all areas of academia and society are seriously grappling with this enigmatic problem. Is the mind a computer? Does consciousness emerge from layers of complexity in the brain's neural activities? Does it depend on functional capabilities? On the culture in which it is immersed? Is it a purely biological feature, and if so what is the essential nature of life? Is consciousness related to fundamental aspects of reality such as quantum mechanics? Or is consciousness unknowable? What if we actually did come to grips with our essential nature? Anesthesiology is critically poised to help unravel this mystery. Studies on mechanisms of anesthetic drugs, depth of anesthesia and issues of awareness and recall during anesthesia can contribute significantly. In the past few years the University of Arizona has sponsored conferences (Toward a Science of Consciousness 1994, 1996, 1998), books, a web course and other activities in collaboration with the Journal of Consciousness Studies. The Department of Anesthesiology was directly involved in the establishment of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona.

For details see the Center for Consciousness Studies site, or contact Dr. Stuart Hameroff at hameroff@u.arizona.edu