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The possible neurophysiological basis of the inner self

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Abstract

Different hypotheses on the nature of the inner self suggested by neurologists, neurophysiologists, and psychophysiologists are discussed, and a new hypothesis is put forward. This hypothesis is based on the structures of neural networks serving as mechanisms for making decisions (the active ego) and networks for introspection, self-control, and self-consciousness (the reflexive ego). The hypotheses are compared with known facts, and their validity is estimated.

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  1. Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 123007, Russia

    D. P. Matyushkin

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Original Russian Text © D.P. Matyushkin, 2007, published in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2007, Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 50–59.

This article is published as a discussion paper.

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Matyushkin, D.P. The possible neurophysiological basis of the inner self. Hum Physiol 33, 701–709 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119707060060

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