Bringing Brain Events to Mind: Functional Systems and Brain Event-Related Potentials

Abstract

Abstract This paper integrates recent brain event-related potential (ERP) data within a functional systems framework. Atripartite division of the brain into cognitive, motoric, and affective/somatic functional systems is proposed. Each functional system contributes separately to conscious experience and each has its own inputs/outputs and associated memory system. It is suggested that brain ERPs reflect computations common to all three functional systems, but that they differ in terms of the specific inputs and outputs, unique to each functional system, upon which the computations are carried out. Outputs from each functional system are fed to the prefrontal cortex, which is suggested as acting as a superordinate functional system mediating goal-directed behavior, with its coherent behavioral outputs - cognitive, motoric and affective/somatic - gaining access to consciousness. It is argued that ERPs are not a royal road to the conscious mind.