Year: 1995
Type: article
Abstract: The topic ofthis paper was already fonnulated and solved at a theoretical level around 500 BC by Heraklit of Ephesos. Essentially Heraklit reminds us that we will never understand human behavior: 'You cannot discover the limits of the soul, even if you use all possible means available, since it is without limits and its capacity can never be exhausted.' .. Now, 2500years after his death, we may come close to empirically proving Heraklit's suppositions about order and chaos in human nature and the universe: 'The order of the accidentally dissolved is the most beautiful.' And: 'Non-obvious harmony is stronger than the obvious.' The general thesis to be illustrated here follows Heraklit's thoughts. (1) Chaotic generators within the human brain are simultaneously active with detenninistic causal mechanisms for the generation of behavior. (2) The probability for the appearance or dominance of chaotic brain processes and therefore unpredictable behavior in addition to detenninistic processes and behaviors is highest in situations that lack a demand for goal-oriented behavior or control of the environment. In situations of 'free floating thought' , or search-orienting situations of
Source: PubMed
Authors: N Birbaumer, H Flor, W Lutzenberger, T Elbert
Institution: University of Tübingen
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2138315740