Models of Consciousness and Clinical Implications

Description and aim

Distributed processes of temporal and spatial coordination of consciousness underlie its apparent continuity. Impairment of this coordination may underlie a set of neurological and psychopathological conditions, like dissociative symptoms. The workshop intends to bring together researchers on consciousness and clinicians towards a better understanding.

The main purpose of the Lorentz Workshop is to formulate the right scientific questions for which the following may serve as examples.

1.  What conditions of a modular and discrete ‘operating system’ for the mind/brain lead to coordination for consciousness and how stable are these?

2.  What is the influence of self-related processing in such coordination?

3.  What are the clinical implications of impaired coordination mechanisms, with special reference to dissociative experiences?

4.  Can some psychopathological conditions be interpreted as dysfunctional coping with this impaired coordination?

5.  How do attention, mental states (including emotions), and consciousness interact?

6.  Does mindfulness influence mental coordination/integration and what are the possibilities for mental health and well-being?

7.  How do mind-states affect (conscious) cortical activity?"

Link to informal website:  http://consciousness2clinicalimplications.wordpress.com/