Where Do Human Thoughts Come From? Could the Source Be Beyond the Brain?

Professor Daniel Siegel, a neuroscientist from the University of California, Los Angeles, believes that human thought is not restricted to the brain or even the body; instead, its origins extend beyond the physical domain of human existence.

While this perspective may seem astonishing, traditional medical theories tie human thought closely to the brain. The common belief is that the brain, as a physical organ, carries out thought processes, which are viewed as the result of electrical activities within various neurons. However, growing evidence suggests that thought extends beyond the physical functions of the brain and cannot be simplistically defined as merely "a function of the brain."

Although the human brain undoubtedly plays a crucial role, Professor Siegel, in his book "Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human," explains that thought is not confined to the structures within the skull and can even transcend the limitations of the human body.

His viewpoint began to form over 20 years ago after attending an academic conference where 40 scientists from various fields discussed understanding human thought. They concluded that a vital component of thought is the self-organizing process of energy and information within individuals or groups. Though this explanation may seem intricate, it is quite innovative, suggesting that thought can extend beyond the individual.

In essence, thought is not just how we perceive experiences; it encompasses the experiences themselves. Siegel proposes that human thought cannot exist independently of interpersonal interactions.

"I know some might ask, 'How do you define a coastline?' Is it water or sand? I believe the coastline is both water and sand," Siegel said. "You can't understand the coastline by considering one element without the other. I've been pondering that perhaps thought is like a coastline, a union of internal and external processes. For anthropologists and sociologists alike, mental life exhibits complex social characteristics. Therefore, a person's thoughts, feelings, memories, and interests in the outside world represent just one aspect of human thought."

Psychologists studying near-death experiences also affirm that thought cannot be adequately described as only a brain function.

Dr. Alexander Batthyany, a psychology professor at the University of Vienna, suggests, based on his research involving thousands of near-death experiences, that the experiences people undergo during extreme physiological crises represent a form of cognitive activity that is not solely a function of the brain, especially considering the lack of physiological functions, like electrical signals, during a near-death state.

Dr. Batthyany further notes that the phenomenon of life review indicates that thinking is an exceedingly complex process, as the "brain function" explanation cannot fully account for the normal or even extraordinary mental states of some individuals, particularly those with dementia, shortly before death.