Toward a theory of consciousness (no less than that). Draft

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Our mobile behavior is governed by a galaxy of privileged cells, that we call neurons, they are the drivers of this packed bus which is our body. Neurons need emotions (fear, hunger, disgust, attraction affective and sexual) to process the inputs from the environment and find food, mates, water, protection from cold and heat. Without emotions the body would not move, or would not move fast as necessary.

Plants also move and process input from the environment. They push roots in the direction of water , leaves in direction of sunlight, even some of them can catch preys (carnivore plants) and nearly all have flowers to attract pollinators. Their reproduction is mediated by mobile animals, insects or birds or winds.

Animals, on the contrary must move to reproduce, feed, flee, fight. Movements are mediated by emotions. And emotions constitute the self, the ego, what we feel as our personality, which is a mix of stored memories of various kinds, momentary inputs from inside (hunger, thirst etc) or from outside: the sight of menacing enemies, attractive mates etc., and drives, preordained and hard wired modalities to execute vital tasks. Self is the mix of perceived sufferings, satisfactions, longings, pleasure which guide actions.

But what happens among privileged neurons is nothing but a decision making machine in order to assure the survival of the body and, with the single body, of the species.

"Bipolar disorder: Also known as manic depression. It is marked by extreme mood swings and affects abut 100 million people worldwide. Many of the genes identified in the study seem to play a key role in the way nerve cells in the brain talk to each other." From the Guardian 7.6

Emergent qualities: Many different trees = a wood and an ecosystem. Neurons "talking to each other" = consciousness. Different musical instruments = an orchestra and a symphony being played. Some parts added make a unity which is not the sume of the parts, but something new.