MINDFROMBRAIN

SelectMINDTOPICSfromMENUonLEFT
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MINDISANEMERGENTABSTRACTIONOFSELFOUT
OFCORTICALNEURONALCIRCUITACTIVITY
UTILIZING:

SensoryInputs,MemoryStorage&Recall
ThalamicGatingofinputstoCorticalRegions:
forSensoryMemory,
forEmotion(Cingulate)
forBasalGanglialMotorControl
forCognition(Prefrontal)
OpenCopyright2009D.E.Hillman

MINDVSBRAIN

TheBrainandBodystandasphysicalelements
formingoperationalcomponentssustaining
vertebratelife.Sensorymotorreflexestogether

withprogrammedmovements,frombasal
ganglia,representthebulkofbrainoperational
controloverbodymovement.

Inmammalsadvanceddevelopmentofthe
cerebralcortexandthalamushasgeneratedan
emergentpropertyofthefunctionalbrain
THEMIND.TheemanationoftheMIND
fromsensoryinputsdefines:SELFwith
MEMORYandEMOTIONS,produces
COGNITIONformingframeworksof
understandingandMAKESDECISONSfor
initiatingmotoractionsexpressingbehaviorand

speechcontent.

Hillman

MIND&BRAINFUNCTIONS

TwoprincipalrolesoftheCentralNervousSystem(CNS)arein:1)operatingmotor
controlsystemsand2)generationoftheMIND.Motorcontrolsare:a)spinalcord
andbrainstemreflexcontrolofvoluntarymusclesproducinginvoluntaryreflexes.
Reflexesaredirectsensoryinputstothespinalcordandbrainstemelicitingmotor
responsesinskeletalmuscles),b)homeostaticmotorcontrolofinvoluntarymuscles
andglandsecretionsviasympatheticandparasympatheticsystems,andc)
programmedautomaticmotorcontrolviathebasalgangliaandcerebellumactingto
producebasicandconditionedmotorcontrolofbehaviorsandspeechcapability.
Besidesthecontrolofreflexes,theBRAINproducesanemergentenergystate,THE
MIND,formingselfawarenessandyieldsconsciousness.TheMINDmanages
sensoryinputsandmemoriesandassociatesthemwitheventemotions.Using
memoriesandemotions,theMINDformsframeworksofunderstandingexpressing
theintellectincognition.Usingintellect,theMINDmakesdecisionsforinitiating
volitionalbehaviorandspeechcontent.
Whilepatternedmovementsareprogrammedintheactiongenerators,basalganglia,
producingbehaviorsandspeechcapability,theMINDmakesdecisionsforselecting
andinitiatingpatternsofmovementbuthaslimitedcontroloverreflexesortheactual
movementpatternsthemselves.Nevertheless,theMINDtrainsprograms,consciously
bytrialanderrortestinginordertoenhanceautomaticmovementpatterns

representedbyourmovementfinesseandbehaviorexpressions.

COMPONENTSOFMIND

CONSCIOUSNESS
Awarenessof:
Sensoryinput
Motorresponses
MEMORY
MemoryStorage
MemoryRecall
MemoryAssociation(Thought)
MemoryRetentionandForgetting
MIND&VALUESDEFINEDINEMOTION
Survival:Nutrition,Procreation
SelfEsteemRecognitionofSelfasbasedonPleasure/DispleasurePrinciples
ReinforcementofvaluesbyCultureandFortheGreaterGoodoftheSpecies
INITIATIONOFBEHAVIORANDSPEECH
DecisionMakingforinitiatingpatternsofmovement
DecisionMakingforspeechcontent
COGNITION
Structural/FunctionalFrameworkofUnderstanding
DeterminingConsequenceofActions
PerceivedSpatialTemporalOrderofEvents&RelatedStructure
PREDICTION(INTUITION)
Imagination
Vision
PERSONALITYandSPEECH(MindInitiated(volitional)MotorActions)

DEHillman5/1/2008

CNSCOMPONENTS

TheCentralNervousSystem(CNS)
consistsofthespinalcord,brainstem,
cerebellum,basalganglia,thalamusand
cerebralcortex.Thecordandbrainstem
representsensorynerveinputregions
exceptforolfaction.Thecordand
brainstemoperatereflexesofspinaland
cranialnerves.Basalganglia(BG)are
originsofpatternedmovementsthatare
passedthroughthethalamustothecerebral
cortex.Thethalamusisatiminggatefor
synchronizingsensoryinputs,motor
controlandcognitiontothecerebralcortex.
TheCerebralCortexistheprimarysource
ofMINDgeneratingconsciousness.

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FLOWINTHEFUNCTIONALMIND
Theflowoffunctionintheconscious
MINDisfromsensoryinputsor
memorystoragetoemotioncenters.
Valuesareplacedonincomingsensory
inputsandmemoriesbyMIND.
Emotionsareassociatedwithinputsand
storedmemoriesandareheldinthe
cingulategyrusforrecall.MINDs
majorutilizationsofmemoryisin
formingframeworksofunderstanding
(cognition)leadingtointellectandin
makingdecisionsformotoractionsof
behaviorsandspeechcontent.

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THEBASESOFMIND

MINDhasnocomparabledescriptiveterms.ThesourceoftheconsciousMINDisfrom
synchronousfunctioningcorticalpyramidalcellsintegratingsensoryinput,emotion,motor
controlandcognitionfromthalamicrelaysources.Thecollectiveactivityofpyramidal
circuitsyieldsaconsciousabstractionofselfawarenessandintellectthatisexpressedto
theworldthroughbehaviorsandspeech.Thissynchronyiscontrolledbythethalamus
allowingtheintelligentMINDtointegratesignalsbetween5functionaldomains:1)inputsto
sensorycortices;2)memorystorageandrecall;3)emotiongeneration;4)motordecision
making;and5)cognition,formingaframeworkofunderstanding.

AnunderstandingoftheconsciousMINDmustinclude:1)spinalcordandbrainstem
sensorymotorreflexorganization,2)thalamicgatingofcorticalsensory&motorinputs
allowingsleep,3)thalamiccorticalsynchronizationofsensorymotordatapacketsproducing
theawakeconsciousMIND,4),emotiongenerationbyamygdala,hippocampusandlimbic
corticalcircuits,5)basalganglialpatternedreflexesthatareinitiatedbyintelligentdecision
makingoftheconsciousMINDand,6)cognition,formingframeworksofunderstandingthat
emergefromthefrontallobe.

UNDERSTANDINGTHEMIND
TheMINDemergesfromphasedsimultaneityofpyramidalcellinputs

acrossfourprocessingregionsofthecerebralcortexthatreceive
inputsbygatingofinputstothethalamus.Thelinkingoftemporal
activitybetweenthethalamusandcortexsynchronizesactivitystatesof
corticalneuronsacrossfourcorticalregions(primarysensory,emotion,
cognitionandmotor)producinganenergystateemanatingasthe
MIND.Theresultisconsciousnesswiththeabilitytoreasonand
initiatewillfulbehaviorsandspecifyspeechcontent.Theessenceof
theconsciousMINDappearsasameldingofsensoryinputsand
memoriesintoatemporalstatewithemotionsandthenthroughrecall
directstheirpassagetocognitioncentersforunderstandingandmotor
decisionmaking.
Twotemporalindicatorsoftherelationshiplinkingtheconscious
MINDandthecognitiveMINDarefoundinbrainwavesignals.The
firstistheEEGsignalthatbeginseachcycleofthefrequencyfrom1to
40Hz.Thesecondsignalisalongersignalthatofhighamplitudethat
appearswithalatencyfrom300to600milliseconds.Thelatterlasts
forasecondormoreandappearstobetheenergystateofcognition

anddecisionmaking.

MIND&MEMORY

OnlyconsciousanddreamingMINDscontributetomemorystorage.TheMINDis
responsibleforassemblingmemoriesfrom:1)inputstovisual,auditory,olfactory,
tasteandbodycontact,2)sensoryresponsesandconsequencesarisingfrommotor
behaviororspeech,and3)emotionsassociatedwithsensoryandmotorevents.
Memoriesaredistributedinmodalitycortices,hippocampus,medialtemporallobe,
andcingulate,frontalandparietalcortices.
SensoryMEMORYisdistributed,broadly,acrossregionsofthecerebralcortex.
Sensoryinputstoprimarycorticesareprocessedforsimilaritiesanddifferences.
Detailsareprocessedinassociationalsensorycorticesthatsurroundprimary
sensorytargets.Alsoprimaryandassociationalcorticesprovideparallelaccessto
memorystoresforcomparisonswithsensoryinputsandprocessingforemotionand
cognition.
TheMINDcannotoperatewithoutafunctionalbrainbutthebrain&bodyoperate
withouttheMIND.Assoonascerebralcorticalorthalamicfunctionislost,the
MINDloosesconsciousness.Inaddition,theMINDisseparablefromtheBRAIN
bythefactthatconsciousnessisturnedoffduringanesthesia,acontusiontothe
headorstatesofsleep,yet,thebrainkeepsonservinghomeostaticbodyfunctions.
EvenwhenMINDinitiatingmotoractionsarequiescent,testingshowsthatbasic
reflexactionsstillremain.MINDwithoutinputsfromsensorysystemsormemory
recallhasdifficultytosustainconsciousnessandlacksabilitytomakedecisions.

MemoryisthegristforplanningandimaginationbytheMIND.

FORMATIONOFMEMORY

MEMORYhastwostates:thefirstisunconsolidatedmemoryandthesecondis
consolidatedintocircuitry.Thefirststateisshorttermheldbythephysiological
propertycalledLTP(longtermpotentiation).Thisshorttermmemoryisneuron
functionalstatethatactivatessignalinggenes,e.g.cfos.Theseearlygenestrigger
phenotypicgenesrelatedtoproteinproductionduringthesecondstate.

Thesecondstateoccursduringsleepasthememoryconsolidatingphasethat
produceslongtermmemory.Newproteinsformingsynapsesareproducedand
insertedintosynapses.Thesechangesincorporatenewsensoryinformationor
modificationstomotoractionsintothecircuit.Thisupgradingofsynapticsitescan
onlyoccurifLTPmodificationsareturnedoffbysleep.Thalamicrelaynuclei
ceasetoactivatepyramidalcellsduetotheslowingoftheEEGto0.5to4Hz
duringsleep.Thisblocksallsensoryinputs,memoriesandmotorinstructionsby
activityinreticularthalamicnucleiandinhibitionofpyramidalcellsomata
preventingintracorticalresponses.

MIND&EMOTION

EMOTIONSareassociatedwithspecificvisualimages,(facesand
locations),soundsandsensorymotorinputsbycomparisonwith
hippocampaltemplatesforeachsensorymodality.Theprimaryvisual
cortexhasamajorsubcorticalprojectionviathelingulatothe
parahippocampalgyrusandintothehippocampalperforantpath.
Imagesfromthevisualcortexareprocessedinthehippocampusfor
familiarity(friendorfoe)andarethendirectedtotheamygdalafor
determiningfrightorflightthroughautonomicexpressionsofeithere
thesympatheticorparasympatheticsystems.
Consciousemotionsaredeterminedinthehippocampusandthese
projectviathefornixtothehypothalamicmammarybodies.From
hereemotionsarerelayedviatheanteriorgroupnucleiofthe
thalamustoemotionstorageinthecingulatecortex.Theconscious
MINDassociatesincomingsensorymemoriesandmotoreventsas
comparisonstopreviousemotionalresponsesofstoredmemories.
Memoriesassociatedwithhighemotionaremostlastingandare
easiesttorecall.

MINDANDCOGNITION

COGNITIONistheabilityoftheMINDtoformulateframeworksof
understandingfrommultiplesensorymodalities,memorystoresandintegrative
sensorycenterslikeWernickesareas.TheMINDrecallsmemoriesofpast
experiencesaccordingtotheiremotions,relatedvalues,consequencesofactions
andpassesthemthroughthemedialdorsalnucleusofthalamustotheprefrontal
cortex.Here,COGNITIONassemblestemporalandspatialorder,andestablishes
meaningofyet,unrealizedsensoryinputs,memories,motoractionsandtheir
consequenceintoframeworksofunderstanding.Thepyramidalcircuitryofthe
frontallobegeneratesCOGNITIONasaMINDstateofunderstandingthat
representstheINTELLECT.
PerceptionsthataregeneratedbyCOGNITIONgivetheMINDtheabilityto
extendunderstandingintoPREDICTION.Fundamentaltothecognitiveprocessis
theabilitytoIMAGINEthatleadstodevelopmentofVISION.TheCOGNITIVE
capabilityofimaginationandvisionrepresentthecreativebreadthofthe
individualsINTELLECT.
ThevastpotentialofMind'sabilitytoimaginemeetslimitationsofthebrains
abilitytocontrolbodyactionsbeyondmuscles,glandsandhormones.Through
creativityandingenuity,theintellectualMINDengineersmechanical,chemical,
electronicandnucleardevicesthataidandbypassBRAINBODYlimitations.
Thisingenuityallowsourlimitedmotorcapacitytocaptureandcontrolvast

energysourcestomeetMind'sgoalsoffarreachingimagination.

MINDANDBEHAVIOR
TheMINDSpowertoreason,formulatecognition,andmake
decisionsinitiatingmotoractionsarethebasesofexpressing
behaviorsandspeech.However,muchofbehavioroccursfrom
involuntaryreflexes,conditionedreflexesandpredefinedpatterned
movements.Virtually,allbehaviorsareeitherhardwiredinreflex
circuitsorareprogrammedinbasalgangliaduringdevelopment.For
themostpart,theconsciousMINDisthedecisionmakerforinitiation
ofmovementforwillfulsimplemotionsorselectionofpatterned
motorresponsesfromarepertoireofexpressionsdefiningbehavior.
TheMINDusesconsequenceandpleasureprinciplestodetermine
behaviorselections.Oncethesereflexesareinitiated,thebehaviors
playoutaccordingtotheprogram,somuchso,theycanbedifficultto
interrupt.Examplesarelaughing,crying,patternsofmovementand
emotionalexpression.TheMINDcanmodulatetheextentofsome
reflexesbutnotentirelypreventthem.

Behaviorcontinued

Homeostaticreflexescontrolmuchofourbasicsurvival
behaviorsthatincluderespiratory,cardiac,GIandurinary
functionaswellasfightorflightactions.Theamygdalaand
hypothalamus,beingthecentersofreflexivecontrolof
emotions,aretheprimaryareasofreflexbasedmotivations.
Thehypothalamusdistributesinvoluntaryactionsthroughthe
twoopposedautonomicsystems,sympatheticand
parasympathetic.Willfulbehaviorsarebasedontheneedto
fulfillfood,sexualandselfesteemdesires.Motivations,
generatedbytheconsciousMINDarisefromthelimbic
systemwhileemotionrelatedinvoluntarybehaviorsare
expressedthroughbasalgangliaandmotorcortices.Willful
motivationsgeneratedfromtheMINDoriginatefromthe
emotioncortex,thecingulategyrus.Thesearrivefromthe
hypothalamicmammillarybodiesasprojectionstoanterior

groupthalamicnucleiandthentothecingulategyri.

MIND&MOTIVATION

Willfulbehaviorsarebasedontheneedtofulfillfood,sexualandself
esteemdesires.Motivations,generatedbytheconsciousMINDarise
fromthelimbicpleasurecenterswhileemotionrelatedvoluntary
behaviorsareexpressedthroughbasalgangliaandmotorcortices.The
hypothalamicmammillarybodiessendprojectionstoanteriorgroup
nucleiandthentothecingulategyri.WillfulmotivationsoftheMIND
comefromemotionsassociatedwithactionmemoriesstoredinthe
cingulategyrus.Selfesteemreinforcementistheprinciplemotivating
factorforhumanoidsandisdrivenbyapleasureobtainedintrinsictothe
MIND.TheMINDobtainsthispleasurebasicallyfromitselfthroughits
ownsatisfactorydecisionsforactions.Yetthebulkofthereinforcement
formotivationisreceivedfromothersasacknowledgement,somebeing
approvalothersdisapproval.Fundamentally,theMINDislookingtothe
motherandpeersforarecognitionoftheirownexistence.Thesesources
expandrapidlyatyoungagessothatcarefulbalancesmustbeconsidered
foramountandkind.Teachingtheindividualtogiveproperrecognition
toothersanddevelophealthyexchangesisthefundamentalbasefor
motovatingpositivebehaviors.

BRAINBODYMIND

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MIND&DECISIONMAKING

ThecentralroleofMINDisintelligentdecisionmakingforinitiatingactions
carriedoutbypatternedmovementsforbehaviorsincludingthegenerationof
speechcontent.(SensorydrivenreflexeshaveonlylimitedcontrolbytheMIND).
ThewillfulintentofMINDinitiatesselfservingmotorcontrolforsurvivaland
reproduction.MINDinitiatedvoluntaryactionsoperatethroughprogrammedbasal
ganglialcontrolinpassagethroughtheventrallateral(VL)andventralanterior
(VA)thalamicnuclearrelaygatetoreachpremotorandmotorrelatedcortices.
WhentheMINDisnotoperatingsuchasduringsleeporunconsciousness,all
voluntarymusclecontrolledreflexesarequiescent.Nevertheless,homeostatic
reflexes(involuntary)operatewithouttheMIND.Whencorticalneuronsbecome
synchronouslyactive,sensoryawarenessreturnsandtheMINDinitiates
programmedcomplexsensorymotorreflexes.Mostbasicareeyemovementsand
antigravityexpression.Virtually,everyactiongeneratedbybasalganglia(except
ballistic)isduetocircuitswiredformodulationinrealtimebyincomingsensory
signalstothecerebellum.Patternedmovementsformarepertoireofbehaviorsthat
mustbeselected,initiatedorstoppedbyMINDdecisions.Conditioningofthe
programmedbehaviorcanmodifyMINDinitiatedvoluntaryactionsthatare
programmedinbasalganglia.

MINDvsREFLEXESandPROGRAMMEDBEHAVIORS

The nervous system operates in three fundamental domains: 1)

reflexcontrolorgan,2)controlofprogrammedpatternedmovement
and 3) generation of the conscious self, The MIND. The caudal
part of the nervous system is, principally, sensorymotor
organization that we commonly revere as reflexes. The peripheral
nervoussystem,(spinalandcranialnerves)togetherwiththespinal
cord and brainstem consists of hardwired circuits driving motor
operations that are activated by sensory inputs. Reflexes control
movements, involuntarily, through voluntary controllable muscles
(musculoskeletalsystem).

Therostralbrainincludingthethalamus,basalgangliaandcortices
contain centers for programmed motor control of patterned
movements that are stored in basal ganglia. Many of these
movement patterns are hardwired before birth and others are
conditionedbyexperience.Thecerebellumliesoverthebrainstem
and receives sensory cranial and spinal nerve inputs as well as
inputs from all cerebral cortices through the pons within the
brainstem. The cerebellum provides detailed fineness for
programmedmovementsusingsensoryinputsandcorticalcontrol.

The neocortex, together with the thalamus is the source of the

MIND.SensoryinputstocorticesbringtheMINDtoconsciousness
and forms memories. The active MIND selects programmed
movements and initiates: objective movements, behaviors and
speech content. The MIND also incorporates emotion into
memories as well as formulates frameworks of understanding that
represent the intellect. The MIND has limited capacity to control
programmedmovementbecauseofcomplexity.TheMINDselects
andinitiatesmovements.

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MIND&MOTORCONTROL

Thebrainoperatesmotorcontrol,reflexively,throughspinalnervesof
thespinalcordandcranialnervesofthebrainstemandasmovement
patternsthatareprogrammedinbasalganglia.TheMIND'smajor
roleistomakeconsciousdecisionsforinitiatingbehavior,speech
contentandspecificmovements.Inaddition,theMINDcan
consciouslymodulateorsubduesomereflexactivitybutcannot
totallystopreflexes.
Furthermore,theMINDisinvolvedintrainingbasalganglial
patternedmovementsbyconscioustrialsandobservingtheir
consequence.Weobserveandinstructourvoluntarymovement
initiationacrosssinglejointsorgroupactionsinaconsciousmanner.
Thismethodisusedtoimproveprecisionorincreasespeedand
effectiveness.TherearetwotypesofMINDinitiatedpatterned
movements:Oneismodifiablepatternedmovementandtheother
isballisticmovements;bothareprogrammedinthebasalganglia.

PROGRAMMEDMOVEMENT

Modifiablepatternedmovementsfrombasalgangliaareslowerthan
ballisticmovementsandallowupdatingofsensorystatustothe
cerebellarcortexandtothebasalganglialpatterngeneratorduring
movement.Thesepatternedmovementsarefromarepertoirethatcan
beinitiatedandstoppedbytheMINDorchangesbeingmadeby
MINDdecisionduringtheirexecution.Thesepatternsplayoutfrom
basalgangliaandarebeingoptimized,continually,for
agonist/antagonistmuscletonebythecerebelluminordertoenhance
finecontrolofmovements.
Innormalbehaviors,theMINDdoesnotcontroldetailofmovement
butonlytheselectionandtheinitiationofmovementpatterns.These
behaviorsareprogrammedusingprewiredreflexes,conditioned
reflexesbutcanbemodifiedbylearningduringdevelopmentand
youngadultsandarenotchangedmuchafteradulthoodisreached.

BasalGangliaPatternedMovement
&CerebellarControl(Indirectpathway)
Corticalinputstotheindirectpathway
comefromthepremotorcortex.These
excitatoryafferentssynapseoninhibitory
striatalneuronsofthematrixcontaining
enkephalinmodulatoryreceptors.The
matrixneuronsprojectinhibitionon
neuronsoftheexternalsegmentofglobus
palliduswhichhasitsmainoutputtothe
subthalamicnucleusandisalsoinhibitory.
Theexcitatoryresponseofthesubthalamic
N.isexcitatoryontotheinternalsegment
ofGP.TheinternalsegmentofGPis
inhibitorytothemotorthalamus(VA& Thecerebellarcortexwithpontineinputsfrom
VL).TheseinhibitoryinputstoVA&VL cerebralcortexandfromsensoryinputstothe
(relaynuclei)aremodulatedbycerebellar cerebellargranulecellsystemprovideongoing
nuclearexcitatoryoutputsandthe
agonist/antagonisttonecontrolthroughprojectionsof
integratedresponsesaretemporally
inhibitoryPCstocerebellarnucleiproducing
releasedtothepremotorcortexbythalamicexcitatoryinputstoVA&VLrelaynuclearcellsto
gating.
balanceglobuspallidusinhibitionoftheindirect
pathway.TheeffectisB.G.generatedpatterned

movementwithcerebellarcontrol.
MOSSY FIBERS

BALLISTICMOVEMENTS
Ballisticmovementsareprogrammedinthebasalgangliatoprovide
highspeedanduptomaximalstrength.Ballisticmovementsare
mostlyselectedforexecutionbytheMIND.
Thesemovementscannotbemodifiedbythepatterngeneratoror
cerebellarcontrolafterinitiationbytheMIND(e.g.golfswing).
Also,ballisticmovementshaveassociatednonballisticmovements
thatformaskeletalplatformadjustingfortheballisticoutcome.
Examplesarebattingabaseballfromahighspeedpitch.Theswing
isballisticbutthekneesraiseorlowertoadjusttheheightofthe
swingplatforminordertomeettheball.Programmingisdoneby
trialanderrorusingsensoryfeedback,consequenceofactionand
suggestionsfromextrinsicobservers(coach)toencouragechangesin
specifictypesofactions.Cerebellarcontrolduringballismislimited
butmustparticipateinreleasingtoneofantagonisticmusclesthatare
activelytonicatthebeginningthemovement.Thisimportant
functionisdescribedintherelationshipbetweenbasalganglialand

cerebellarcontrol.

BallisticMovementGeneration(

Directpathway).

Corticalinputstobasalgangliacomefromthepremotorcortex.Theseafferentssynapseon
inhibitorystriatalneuronsinsubstancePpatchesofthestriatum.Dopamineofsubstantianigra
compactaupregulatestheseinhibitoryneuronsincreasingstriatalinhibitoryoutputtotheinternal
segmentoftheglobuspallidus(GPi)&substantianigrareticulata(SNr).Theoutputisinhibition
tothemotorthalamus(VA&VL)andexcitationoftheseneuronsbycerebellarnuclei.The
integrativeresultisballisticmotoroutputtoagonistmusclesthroughpremotor&motorcortices.
DIRECT BASAL GANGLIAL PATHWAY BALLISTIC PATTERNED MOVEMENT

TheeffectisthatdysinhibitionofGPiby
Premotor - Sensori-Motor Cortex
striataloutputresultsinpatterned
movementswithoutcontrolfromsensory
Striatum
inputmodulationorfromthecerebellar
MUSCLES
cortex.Thus,ballisticmovementpatterns FOR ANTAGONISTIC
FOR AGONIST MUSCLES
areuncheckedbythesubthalamus(See
Globus Pallidus
VA
indirectpathway).Themovementpatternis
Substantia Nigra
VL
presetforballisticmovementsbymotor
Subs Nigra Compacta
Thalamus
cortexdrivingagonistmotorneuronsofthe
INFERIOR
OLIVE
cordorbrainstemandantagonistmuscle
relaxationfromcerebellartoneproduction
CLIMBING FIBERS
Cerebellar
thatiscontrolledbycerebellarnuclear
Purkinje Cells
outflow.Theinhibitoryoutputoftheglobus
pallidusmeetscerebellarnuclearexcitation ThecerebellargranulecellactivationofPCsistoo
slowforballisticmovementsothattheseactionsare
inVA&VLandthesearegatedtothe
premotorandmotorcortex.Thecerebellar intercededbyantagonistrelatedhighspeedclimbing
fiberinputthatactivatesPCstoinhibitcerebellar
nucleiforantagonisttonearecontrolledby

climbingfiberactivationofPurkinjecells. nucleithatreleaseantagonistmuscletone.
Patches
Subt "P"

Cerebral Peduncles

Lat. Corticospinal Tr.

Internal

Sup. Cerebellar Peduncle

Reticulata

Sp. Cord

Cbl Nuc

SOURCEOFTHEMIND

TheemergenceoftheconsciousMINDoutoffunctionalcircuitryis
basedoninputgatingtofourneocorticalregionsfromthe
THALAMUS.Pyramidalcellsandcorticalcircuitryaresynchronously
phasedacrossregionsoftheneocortexbyfourinterlinkedthalamic
relaytiminggates.EEGsareremoterecordedpotentialsfromthe
cranialsurfaceshowingaspindlemarkerpotentialappearingevery
secondto2628milliseconds(at40Hz).Themarkersignalspartition
EEGsthatarefollowedbyhighfrequencysignals(seeGerberetal.
2008).Duringcognition,therateis40Hzwhileduringsleep,the
reticularthalamicnucleislowthalamicoutputsto0.54Hz.MEGs
indicatethatthe40Hzsignalisalsopresentduringsleep(Llinas&
Ribary1993)andsuggestthateyemovementsarebeingreplayedfor
visualmemoryconsolidationduringREMsleep.EEGs,MEGsERPs
andlocaldepthelectrodesrevealasecondlargeramplitudesignal,
eventrelatedpotentials.Theseextendacrosstheneocortexand
reoccurafterstimuliatlatenciesof300600milliseconds.These

appeartobethetruesignalsofcognitionanddecisionmaking.

Thethalamusactsasthegatekeeperofoutputs
fromthalamicrelaynucleitorespectivecortical
regions.Sensoryinputsfromspinalandcranial
nervesprojecttosensorythalamicrelaynuclei
(VP)andaregatedbylaterallyplacedreticular
thalamicnuclei(RN).TheRNactasthe
clockingtimerforallcerebralinputs.

INPUTSFORMINGMIND

MotoractionsareinitiatedbyMINDdecision
frompremotorcortexontothebasalganglia
(BG)andcerebellumandthentotheVAVLof
thalamusforinterpolationwithcerebellar
control.Motorgatingbysynchronizationofthe
VAVLconnectionstomotorcorticessignal
spinalandcranialmotorneurons.

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Theanteriorgroup(AG)incorporatesemotion
intomemorieswhilethemedialdorsal(MD)
thalamuscarriessensoryattention,memories,
emotionandmotorresponsesintofrontaland
parietallobesforformulationofunderstanding
bytheCOGNITIVEMIND.

THALAMUS:GATEWAYTO
CORTEX

TheTHALAMUShasfourdistinctrelay

functionalregionsthatprojecttorespective
cerebralcorticalregions.Thecaudalthalamus
projectssensoryinputs,arisingfromvarious
typesofreceptors,i.e.vision,audition,touch,
painetc..Themotorthalami(ventrallateral
andanteriorlateralnuclei)arerelaygating
nucleiforsignalingmotorbehaviorsand
speechthataregeneratedfrombasalganglia
andthecerebellum.Sensoryinputspassfrom
primarysensorycorticesthroughthe
hippocampusdeterminingfriendorfoeand
appliesfightorflightreflexesthroughthe
hypothalamus.Also,thehippocampus
projectssignalstotheanteriorgrouprelay
nucleiincorporatingandstoringemotion
linkedmemoriesinemotioncortex.Afourth
thalamicnuclearregionisthemedialthalamus
thatcarriesinputsforcognition.Thisrelay
nucleusprojectstoprefrontalcortexproducing
frameworksofunderstandingthatgiveriseto
intellect.TheMINDemanatesas
consciousnessandintellectarisingfrom
phasedsynchronousactivityacrossthefour

targetregionsoftheneocortex.

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THALAMICGATING
Thethalamustemporallyblocksrelaynucleipassageofsensory,
motor,emotionandcognitivesignalstothecerebralcortexduring
sleep(EEGfrequenciesbelow5Hz).Blockingofcorticalinputs
duringsleepstopssensoryandmotoractivityinordertoprevent
interruptionofmemoryupdating.Inaddition,extensormotor
expression(standing)isblockedtopreventwalkingandinjuryduring
sleep.

Onawakening,thereticularthalamicnucleiincreasethegatingrate
from513Hz.Thethalamicrelaynucleiofinputgatesspiketrain
snippets,brieflytorespectivecorticeswithineachEEGcycle.At40
Hz(cognitive),eventrelatedpotentials(ERPs,Milleret.al2008&
MEGs,Llinas&Ribary1993)showaphasedsynchronyofEEGs
andMEGsoverthecranium.Thisphasingappearstobeduetothe
cascadeofheirarchyfromsensoryinput,emotion,cognitiontomotor
decisionmakingforselectionandinitiationofmovement.

SOURCEOFGATING

Thereticularthalamicnucleuscupsthelateralsurfaceofthethalamusandsends
projections,radially,intoeachofthethalamicrelaynuclei.Thecloseassociationand
couplingofthereticularneuronsareideallypositionedforsynchronizedreleaseof
relaynucleifiringtothecortex.Functionalactivityofreticularneuronssynchronize
theinhibitorygateonrelayneuronsslowingburststoaslittleasonepersecondduring
sleepbutto15to40Hzintheawaketocognitiveindividual.Anothergroupof
neurons,intralaminarthalamicnuclei,aredistributedalongtherostralcaudal
circumferenceofthethalamusthatismarkedbyaninternalmedullarylamina.
Differentlaminargroupsappeartoprojectiontospecificregionsofthecerebralcortex.
Theseafferentstargetthemostdistal,dendriticterminalsofpyramidalcelldendritesin
layerI.Weproposethatthisintralaminarinputisexcitatorytopyramidalcells
resultingintotaldepolarizationofthetheentiredendriticarborbyactivatingvoltage
sensitivecalciumchannels.Theresultisashortbarrageofdendriticspikes(similarto
climbingfiberPurkinjecellresponses)andthatthesecorrespondtospindlesofthe
EEGandmarksthebeginningoftherelayinput.Followingthetotaldendritic
depolarizationthereisacoordinatedrepolarizationofpyramidalcellscreating
synchronyofequalrestingpotentiallevelsthroughoutspecificcorticalregion.Thus,
allofthepyramidalcellsbegintoreceivetherelaybarrageatthesametimeandthus
produceameaningfulactivitystatusinpyramidalcellstomaximizethefidelityof

pyramidalcellreceptionduringsubsequentthalamicrelayinputsfor20msecorso

GATINGBYTHALAMICRELAYNUCLEI
Allcorticalinputstotheneocortexare
gatedwithinthetemporalframethat
representscorticalinputpassage
throughthalamicrelaynuclei.Thegate
iscontrolledbythereticularthalamic
nucleus(RT)asintervalblockingand
releaseofoutputsoftherelaynucleito
theneocortex.Intralaminarnuclei
(blackblue)targetpyramidalcells,we
believe,syncthesecorticalneuronsfor
receivingrelayinput.Relaynucleifor
visionandauditionareinthegeniculate
bodieswhileenvironmentalandself
sensationsarerelayedthroughthe
ventralposteriorthalamus(VPLfor
bodyandVPMforhead).Programmed
motorcontrolofbasalgangliaare
relayedbytheventrallateral(VL)and
anterior(VA)nuclei.Emotionsare
relayedthroughtheanteriorgroupof
nucleiwhilecognitionispassedthrough
themedialdorsalthalamicnuclei.

Motor

THALAMICGATE&MIND

TheconsciousMINDisanemergentstatefromoperationalcortical
circuitryrepresentingfourmajorcomponents.
Thefourtypesofinputsat
thebottomentertherelay
thalamicnuclei,butare
heldbythereticulargate.
Thethepyramidalcellsof
thefourcorticalregionsare
receiveinputstotheentire
dendritictree,Inaddition
themostapicaldendritesin
layeronereceive
intralaminarinputsthe
temporalrelationofthe
cascadeincircuit
processinggivesrisetothe
MINDinformationalstate.

Pyramidal
Cells

Thissummaryshows,
diagrammatically,howthe
characteristiccomponentsofMIND
relatetofunctionalexpressionsof
motoractions.Consciousnessof
sensoryinputsareprocessedinto
memory.Memoriesareassociated
withemotionsthatgivevalues.A
majorroleoftheMINDistomake
decisionsofbasalganglialpatterned
movementsthatdeterminewillful
movements,behaviorsandspeech.

ROLESOF
MIND

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

PERSONALITYandINTELLECT
emanateasproductsofMINDthat
revealtheindividualityofSELFand
cognitivecapacity.

OVERVIEW
BRAIN&BODY
Thebraincontrolsthe
body,unconsciously,
throughhomeostatic
reflexes.Voluntary
movementsfor
survivaland
reproductionare
initiatedbydecisionof
theMIND.
Thesedecisionsarefor
programmedbehaviors
determiningactions
andpersonality.

Hillman

MIND&SOUL

TheMINDisemergentfrom
neuronalactivityofthe
cerebralcortexsignaling
sensoryawareness,
consciousnessandthepower
toreason.MINDs
experiencesestablish
VALUESthatbecomethe
basisofourpersonality,
dictateouractions,and
definethespiritofself.This
SPIRITtranscendstheactive
brainintheSOULthatis
heldintheMINDSofothers

&inantiquities.

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