The Libet Experiments: Consciousness vs. Choice and guidance from Paramatma in the heart

Introduction:

Benjamin Libet was an American neuroscientist known for his pioneering experiments in the 1980s that explored the relationship between brain activity and conscious will. His work has had significant implications for our understanding of free will and consciousness and by lateral extension, presence of Paramatma in the heart.

The Utopia of Free Will:

The question of free will – the ability to consciously choose our actions – has captivated philosophers and scientists for centuries. Benjamin Libet, a pioneering neuroscientist, delved into this very question through a series of groundbreaking experiments in the 1980s. His findings challenged our traditional understanding of decision-making, suggesting that conscious awareness may not be the driving force behind our actions as we often believe. This article explores the intricacies of the Libet experiments, their implications for free will, and the ongoing debate they have ignited.

The Experiment: A Glimpse into the Brain's Hidden Workings

Libet's experiment involved a seemingly simple task. Subjects were instructed to flex their wrist at a completely random moment. While they did so, their brain activity was monitored using electroencephalography (EEG). This technique measures electrical activity in the brain, allowing researchers to observe neural processes in real-time. Crucially, Libet also incorporated a unique element: a rotating clock displayed on a screen. Subjects were asked to report the exact position of the clock when they first felt the urge to move their wrist.

The data revealed a fascinating truth. Brain activity, measured as a specific signal known as the Bereitschaftspotential (readiness potential or RP), began to build up in the motor cortex – the brain region responsible for movement – Libet found that the RP began approximately 550 milliseconds before the actual movement, while the conscious intention to move was reported about 200 milliseconds before the movement. In other words, the brain initiated preparatory activity for the wrist movement well before the subject felt they had made a conscious decision to act.

A Lag in Awareness or an Illusion of Choice?

Libet's findings presented a conundrum. How could the brain initiate an action before we are even consciously aware of the decision? Two main interpretations arose from this observation:

1. The Unconscious Conductor: This view suggests that our conscious awareness plays a secondary role. Unconscious processes in the brain initiate the movement (could it be Paramatma from Vedic Theology), and only later do we become aware of this decision. This interpretation challenges the very foundation of free will, implying that our choices are pre-determined by unconscious neural or 'guidance from Paramatma' activity.
2. The Veto Power of Consciousness: Libet himself proposed an alternative interpretation. While acknowledging the unconscious initiation of movement, he argued that conscious awareness still plays a crucial role. Even after the brain has initiated the movement, we retain a "veto power." We can consciously override the pre-determined action if we choose to. In this view, free will lies in the ability to consciously modulate pre-existing neural impulses.

The Evolving Debate

The Libet experiments have sparked a vibrant debate within neuroscience and philosophy. Critics have pointed out limitations in the experiment's design. The reliance on subjective reports of the "urge to move" introduces a level of uncertainty, as the exact timing of conscious awareness is difficult to pinpoint. Additionally, the act of focusing on the rotating clock might itself influence brain activity, leading to potential artifacts in the data.

Furthermore, some argue that Libet's concept of veto power doesn't fully explain the nuances of free will. Choosing not to act is still a form of action, and the neural processes underlying this choice remain unclear.

Despite these criticisms, Libet's experiments have undoubtedly opened a new window into the complex interplay between the unconscious and conscious mind. Subsequent research has further corroborated the existence of the Bereitschaftspotential and its role in movement initiation. However, new interpretations have emerged.

For instance, some argue that the RP represents the brain's accumulation of evidence for a specific action, not a commitment to it. Conscious awareness then acts as a final arbiter, selecting the action once sufficient evidence is gathered.

Paramatma in the heart

In Bhagavad gita 15.15 Bhagavan Krishna says:

The Lord is not only all-pervading; He is also localized in every individual heart. He awards the different fruitive results.

BG 15.15, Purport:

The Supreme Lord is situated as Paramātmā in everyone's heart, and it is from Him that all activities are initiated. The living entity forgets everything of his past life, but he has to act according to the direction of the Supreme Lord, who is witness to all his work. Therefore he begins his work according to his past deeds. Required knowledge is supplied to him, and remembrance is given to him, and he forgets, also, about his past life. Thus, the Lord is not only all-pervading; He is also localized in every individual heart. He awards the different fruitive results.

Furthermore in the Srimad Bhagavatham it is said:

Yogīs meditate upon the localized Paramātmā situated in the heart.

SB 5.7.7, Translation and Purport:

"In this way, being purified by ritualistic sacrifices, the heart of Mahārāja Bharata was completely uncontaminated. His devotional service unto Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa, increased day after day. Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva, is the original Personality of Godhead manifest as the Supersoul (Paramātmā) as well as the impersonal Brahman. Yogīs meditate upon the localized Paramātmā situated in the heart, jñānīs worship the impersonal Brahman as the Supreme Absolute Truth, and devotees(bhaktas) worship Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental body is described in the śāstras. His body is decorated with the Śrīvatsa, the Kaustubha jewel and a flower garland, and His hands hold a conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. Devotees like Nārada always think of Him within their hearts".

All pervading Paramātmā: Number of atoms in the Universe:

Current material research says that "the observable universe, which contains an estimated 200 billion galaxies, likely has on the order of 4 x 10^80 atoms in total. This is an incredibly large number, but still many orders of magnitude less than the total number of atoms in the observable universe, estimated to be between 10^78 to 10^82" Assuming for a moment this is correct we have the Paramtma expanded into each atom we have around 10^82 Paramatmas since paramatma is present in each atom of the Universe and in every living entity in the world.

Localized Paramātmā in the heart: Number of bacterial and other life forms in just one planet:

The estimated number of bacteria on planet Earth is approximately 5 x 10^30. This number is based on various studies and estimates, including a groundbreaking study that calculated the total bacterial population to be five million trillion trillion, which is equivalent to 5 x 10^30. This staggering number highlights the ubiquitous presence of bacteria in diverse ecosystems, including soil, oceans, and even the human body. we have around 5 X 10^30 Paramatmas since paramatma is present in each living entity. Mind boggling numbers!!

Free Will in a Deterministic Universe?

The Libet experiments raise profound questions about the nature of free will. If our brains initiate decisions before we are consciously aware of them, does that mean our choices are predetermined?

The answer might lie in a more nuanced understanding of free will. It's possible that free will doesn't reside in the initiation of actions, but rather in the ability to shape our desires and motivations through upbringing, experience, and conscious reflection. Our brains may present us with pre-determined options, but the power to select and refine our desires ultimately rests with consciousness.

Furthermore, the existence of a "veto power" suggests a degree of agency within the conscious mind. We may not originate actions, but we can choose to act upon them or inhibit them. This ability to consciously influence our behavior is a crucial aspect of what it means to be free. This minute freedom is given to every living entity by Bhagavan Krishna.

Conclusion

Benjamin Libet's experiments have profoundly influenced the fields of neuroscience and philosophy by challenging traditional notions of free will and conscious decision-making. While his findings suggest that unconscious processes play a significant role in initiating actions, the debate over the existence and nature of free will continues, with ongoing research exploring the complexities of human volition and consciousness. From the Vedic perspective this may indicate the presence of Paramatma and the guidance that we receive moment to moment from the Bhagavan in form of paramatma. Sometimes though it is our desire for sense gratification. Unless we purify our consciousness we cannot for sure say whether it is our cuckoo mind or Paramatma speaking to us. By His localized aspect He is living everywhere, omnipresent, within the heart of all living entities, within the atom even. More practical research and analysis is needed.

Om Tat Sat