A motor theory of how consciousness within language evolution led to mathematical cognition: the origin of mathematics in the brain

Journal/Book: New Idea Psychol. 1999; 17: the Boulevard Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1GB, England. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 215-235.

Abstract: Invariance associated with Pribram's (1971, 1991) motor images-of-achievement (imaged consequences of movement) is proposed to provide the fundamental neurophysiological basis for mathematical cognition [Pribram, K. (1971) Languages of the brain. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Pribram, K. (1991) Brain and perception: holonomy and structure in figural processing. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.] A three-part theory is outlined. First, linguistic representations of self-consciousness were instantiated through the evolutionary process of distinguishing one's own vocalizations from those of others. It is proposed that consciousness was imparted to these linguistic representations from an already corticalized neuromatrix described by Melzack (1992) [Melzack, R. (1992, April) Phantom limbs. Scientific American, 266, 120-126.] Second, language evolved from motoric images-of-achievement associated with vocalization arising in the pre-Rolandic and inferior parietal cortex. Third, abstractive language processing that decomposes higher-order motor engrams into invariant image-schemas provides the basis for the awareness of pattern that constitutes mathematical cognition. It is concluded that mathematical cognition obtained an evolutionary connection with the physical world by way of the brain's somatic systems.

Note: Article Vandervert LR, Amer Nonlinear Syst, 1529 W Courtland, Spokane,WA 99205 USA

Keyword(s): consciousness; image-schemas; language evolution; mathematical cognition; motor theory of language; phantom limbs; self-consciousnes; CONCEPTUAL PRIMITIVES; PHANTOM LIMBS; PERCEPTION; BUILD; SPACE; BABY

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