Review
The role of primordial emotions in the evolutionary origin of consciousness

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2008.06.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Primordial emotions are the subjective element of the instincts which are the genetically programmed behaviour patterns which contrive homeostasis. They include thirst, hunger for air, hunger for food, pain and hunger for specific minerals etc.

There are two constituents of a primordial emotion—the specific sensation which when severe may be imperious, and the compelling intention for gratification by a consummatory act. They may dominate the stream of consciousness, and can have plenipotentiary power over behaviour.

It is hypothesized that early in animal evolution complex reflex mechanisms in the basal brain subserving homeostatic responses, in concert with elements of the reticular activating system subserving arousal, melded functionally with regions embodied in the progressive rostral development of the telencephalon. This included the emergent limbic and paralimbic areas, and the insula. This phylogenetically ancient organization subserved the origin of consciousness as the primordial emotion, which signalled that the organisms existence was immediately threatened. Neuroimaging confirms major activations in regions of the basal brain during primordial emotions in humans. The behaviour of decorticate humans and animals is discussed in relation to the possible existence of primitive awareness.

Neuroimaging of the primordial emotions reveals that rapid gratification of intention by a consummatory act such as ingestion causes precipitate decline of both the initiating sensation and the intention. There is contemporaneous rapid disappearance of particular regions of brain activation which suggests they may be part of the jointly sufficient and severally necessary activations and deactivations which correlate with consciousness [Crick, F. & Koch, C. (2003). A framework for consciousness. Nature Neuroscience, 6, 119–126].

Section snippets

Emotions—the subjective elements of instinct

Emotions are a mystery. Introspectively, persons are aware that an emotion can surge up and have totalitarian occupancy of the stream of consciousness. It may be intense enough to submerge any coherent will, or rationality hitherto operative.

Emotion is inexorably bound to instinct. The great Harvard psychologist, James (1918), stated “In speaking of instincts, it has been impossible to keep them separate from the emotional excitements which go with them…They shade imperceptively into each

The survival value of the emergence of consciousness

Emotions, being intrinsically subjective, are a major element of conscious processes. Consciousness being the zenith of brain evolution and function, has emerged in evolution because its advent gave high survival advantage. It has been honed on the anvil of natural selection. For an animal to be able to form images in the mind, and to choose an apt option for action in the light of appraisal of an immediate situation, including in many instances its memory of previous experiences, has great

Edelman and Tononi’s theory of the origin of consciousness

The issue of the first dawning of consciousness—“primary consciousness” has been discussed by Gerald Edelman in several of his books (Edelman, 1992, Edelman and Tononi, 2000). Panksepp (1998) has also made an important proposal. Both proposals differ from the one advanced by the authors in this article.

The nub of Edelman’s theory is that primary consciousness emerged with the capacity of an animal’s brain to “create a scene”. That is, it is essentially an exteroceptor or distance receptor

Panksepp and Homer Smith’s theory on origin of consciousness

In relation to the theory of the primordial emotions being the origin of consciousness, there is an alternative view of Panksepp (1998). He also places the evolutionary genesis of consciousness in the brainstem, but bases its origin in the primitive motor systems in this part of the brain. In overview he puts much emphasis on “split brain” studies to propose the essential centre of existence is subcortical. Despite the instances of the left hand opposing the action of the right in, for example,

The neuroimaging of primordial emotions

Neuroimaging provides knowledge of those areas of the brain which become activated or deactivated contemporaneous with the subjective experience of a primordial emotion—the areas subserving the imperious sensation and compelling intention. Francis Crick (1994) has stated that—

“It seems probable that at any one moment some active neural process in your head correlates with consciousness, while others do not. What are the differences between them”?

The direct experimental approach is greatly

Neuroimaging of thirst

Consideration of neuroimaging of thirst gives insight into some of the general issues raised above.

Moderate thirst was produced in 10 volunteers by rapid intravenous infusion of 0.51 M NaCl (Denton et al., 1999a). Subjects were imaged at the stage of maximum thirst. In the light of the characteristic “dry mouth” sensation which occurs with thirst as a consequence of large diminution of saliva flow, the subjects were permitted to wash out their mouths with water via a glass straw, and then the

Some putative cortical organizations subserving consciousness

Consistent with the earlier statements in this article on the survival value of consciousness, and considering briefly some aspects of the cortical organization in general terms, Baars (2005) proposes consciousness is a fundamental biological adaptation. He says that the brain correlates of consciousness appear to be phylogenetically ancient and go back at least to the earliest mammals. In all mammals, alertness and sensory consciousness are required for the goal directed behaviours that make

Conclusion

It is, of course, evident that this is an early stage of accrual of knowledge to allow speculation on the phylogenetic processes giving rise to primary consciousness or the first dim awareness. Neuroimaging during changing states in lower animals will probably be essential to gain insight on change of brain function when changes in the body cause altered behaviour. This is a vast field to explore in terms of fundamental processes ensuring normal regulatory function of organisms and the

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Robert J. Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the Harold G. and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Trust, the Search Foundation, the Derek Denton Endowment, and the Brown Foundation. We are also deeply indebted to Dr. Robert Shade, Professor Peter Fox and Mr. Frank Zamarippa for collaboration in the experiments, and also Professor Jean-Pierre Changeux, the late Dr. Francis Crick, Professor Christof Koch, and Dr. Roger Guillemin, for discussion.

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