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Human Perception in Condition of Uncertainty: The Visual, Auditory and Embodied Responses to Ambiguous Stimuli
Boschetti, Silvia ; Flegr, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Palanza, Paola (referee) ; Pfaus, James (referee)
In order to orient ourselves in the environment our senses have evolved so as to acquire optimal information. The optimization, however, incurs mistakes. To avoid costly ones, the over-perception of patterns (in humans) augments the decision making. I tested the decision- making in two modalities, acoustic and visual. A set of stimuli (using computer-generated graphics, based on output from a very good pseudo random generator) was produced: masks with a random pattern with varying degree of transparency over geometrical figures were used, followed by similar task that involved black and white high-contrast patterns. In both cases, I was able to find, using a Bayesian statistical approach, that the ability to detect the correct pattern presence (or lack thereof) was related to respondents' thinking styles, specifically Rationality and Intuition. Furthermore, I used ambiguous facial expressions, and accompanying vocalizations, of high-intensity affects (pain, pleasure and fear) and low- intensity (neutral and smile/laughter). My findings evidenced that the high-intensity facial expressions and vocalizations were rated with a low probability of correct response. Differences in the consistency of the ratings were detected and also the range of probabilities of being due to chance (guessing). When...
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Neural Correlates of Consciousness: Theoretical problems and Candidates
Blaštík, Filip ; Flegr, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Boschetti, Silvia (referee)
Consciousness is part of the world, which yet resisted a scientific inquiries for an ages. This work is mainly concerned around Neural Correlates of Consciousness program which should uncover a nature of the consciousness. It covers wide variety of a theoretical problems, the first part is concerned around the ambivalence of Neural Correlates of Consciousness definition and its alternatives. The second part asks a questions, whether the neural correlates of consciousness is only discourse creating entity and sheds a light on the dilemma, if the right correlations to form neural correlates of consciousness are possible. It is done on a basis of the experimental evidence and their attempts to form Neural Correlate of Consciousness. In third chapter the philosophical dilemma is exposed. The dilemma arises from conceptual decisions "What is to be conscious", how researchers philosophically pre-conceptualize the scientific question. This is tried to be reconciled by unification of the philosophical theories. Alas it is shown the unification of the theories of mind is impossible. From this is drawn a conclusion that the philosophical pre-conception is a necessary ingredient to form the neural correlate of consciousness. To breach from mere a correlation to a causality is a matter of choosing testable and...
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