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Context and consciousness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Colin G. Ellard
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2. cellard@watarts.uwaterloo.ca

Abstract

The commentary argues (1) that we cannot be sure that human consciousness has survival value and (2) that in order to understand the origins and, perhaps, the function of consciousness, we should examine the behavioural and neural precursors to consciousness in nonhumans. An example is given of research on the role of context in decisions regarding fleeing from probable predators in the Mongolian gerbil.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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