Area 2: from the thalamus to the cortex … we put impulse trails to work
Here we’ll learn how impulsing, in this area of the conscious pathways builds the network of records we rely on for achieving the resolutions that keep trails propelled–often relieving tension–to keep our feelings balanced.
As we continue following an impulse trail from the thalamus, we’ll see that when the trail reaches the cortex it forms a pattern of fused neurons in passing. This pattern is a permanent record of the conscious instant just experienced and as it’s formed, it fits into a network of related records. The trail’s remaining energy then sinks into this related network–to access and energize those related network records for a brief time. And as the trail’s energy sinks into its related records, we experience a sense of recognition. In addition, since the adjacent related records (formed in the past) are energized, we’ll see that they can be potentially used in deriving a resolution, such as a thought.
a. Forming a record of each conscious instant
1. To review, we’ve seen that when an impulse trail enters the thalamus it energizes a set of neuron groups representing the component qualities of the conscious instant being experienced.
2. When the trail leaves the thalamus it remains split and the separate impulses (from the separate thalamus groups) fan out (diverging ) to the cortex. When separate impulses reach the cortex, they energize a set of the patchwork-like areas of the cortex that also correspond to the component qualities of the instant just experienced.
3. Then as impulses enter and energize the patchwork-like areas of the cortex the thin blanket-like covering of neurons in layers that forms the surface of the brain they instantly and simultaneously spread out over the surface from these points of entry in every direction 360 degrees through a surface layer of neurons, until the impulses from the separate patchwork areas meet again and collide
4. At this point … as these impulses … from different … opposing directions … collide … and the membranes of the neurons involved … in effect … are dissolved … and these neurons … along with the neurons in trails … back to points of entry … are fused … and all together … this pattern of fused neurons … is a record … made up of the component qualities … of the instant just experiencedAnd this new record … of component qualities … fits into an ever-evolving network of records … each of which is also a pattern of fused neurons … made up of (a set of) component qualities.
And since the neurons making up these patterns are fused together … and there is no longer any resistance … between these neurons … it’s as if the walls or membranes between the neurons … making up the fused pattern … are dissolved … which allows impulse energy to freely flow into any part of the pattern … in the future.
And then … as a newrecord … of component qualities … is built into … (becomes a part of) … the current network of records … impulse energy … from the new record (from the new record’s trail) … continues to freely flow into any record … made in the past … having any of the new record’s qualities … in their makeup
In other words … as a new record is formed in the network of records … its impulse energy flows into any past records having any of the new record’s qualities … (in their make-up) … thereby energizing these related records made in the past
So if a new record is an image/vision … that has the color blue … in its makeup … impulse energy flows into … … and energizes … any past records having blue in their make-up … (by way of qualities they have in common)
b. Forming larger records: fusing single records together where they share the same qualities
Fusing a series of records from the same sense records over time forms a temporal record
Fusing records from different senses together … at the same time is an = inter-sensory records
Spatial record. Now since impulse trails … from the thalamus … into the cortex … are constantly entering and forming records … that stay briefly energized … records from different senses often gather
And when these energized patterns … have one or more quality in common … like quality soft … an inter-sensory record is formed … These enlarged records share that quality(s) in their makeup … so the records or pieces of lace … are joined … at the point(s) … where they have a quality(s) … in common …
It’s a spatial record of what is present at the same time … in the same space
So in the future … energy into any part of this larger record … flows through … to all its parts … of all the joined records. So this is how we learn … we make records … between sensations/thoughts of different senses
Temporal record. Another kind of record … that routinely occurs … is the linked series … of records from the same sense … It’s often a record of how … the steps we take … to get from one state to another …
The records in this series are very similar … like frames on a reel of film … or an animated cartoon …
and since … from instant to instant … from record to record … the majority of the qualities are the same …
… there are many points of fusion between them … so, again in the future, energy into any one record …
… freely cascades through this series … automatically energizing this linkage of records … each in turn …
… like water flowing through a series of sieves … that have their holes lined up … one under the other …
This kind of record links the core qualities of an experience … often how something is done … that takes us from one state to its resolution … i.e. from an unrelated core set of states … to core qualities of their resolution … is a temporal record …
We constantly use temporal records for guidance in our daily activities …
And together, with spatial records … these records form our personal sensory network of records … that defines our personal character … used and supported by work in other sections of the conscious pathways …
c. A personal network of records develops.
So each new record fits … like a tiny piece of lace … into (building) the life-long network of records … that we build into … by way of … sets of qualities … throughout our life …
Network development … subjects … sets of core qualities.
Now these enlarged records are organized … by their core qualities … so as/when network of records begins to develop around established set of qualities …a subject develops …
Network of sensory records: lifelong process:
So our network is made up of records that provide routes that … as we’ll see … lead to resolutions … that support ongoing monitoring and resolving activities … for maintaining our emotional and overall health … while supporting the same in others …
d. Energizing related records
Now … as a single record … as well as … a series of records are formed … their trail’s left-over, residual energy continues to sink in … their related networking … which … when it’s a well-worn route … gives us a sense of recognition or orientation … and which keeps the new record energized … for a brief time …
And if this new record has qualities in common … with records made in the past … we experience a sense of recognition … as the trail’s left-over energy sinks in
… as well as … a sense of orientation … as the trail’s left-over energy goes on … to update and energize a number of areas of related records … accessing them … as we’ll see … for potential use in the future … in forming a resolution … (potentially for immediate use in generating a thought … past, present and … future)
e. Related records on-call.
Now after using its energy for fusing new records … the residual energy sinks into their record network … that the new record … just fit into … by way of the record’s component qualities …
And as it fits into … becoming a part of the networking … the new energy is extended into the related areas of the network … by way of adjacent record’s qualities … giving us a sense of orientation or recognition …
And this sinking in feeling assures us that the new information has found its place … by way of shared qualities … from record to record …
So, for example, if an incoming instant makes a record that includes the quality “blue” … the trail’s residual energy … goes on to energize any records having blue in their makeup … and those records … energize any linked records … sharing any of its qualities … and so on … the trail’s left-over energy … flows very quickly … … in the networking available … for as far as residual energy takes it …
Now … as incoming trails form records … and their related areas … of networking … are energized …
and as their related networking is energized …(sinking in) … we feel … a sense of recognition … or orientation
And as the trail of the instant … sinks in … we say it has … meaning or … we understand …
So records … using the example of the image of clouds in the sky … the trail goes on to energize any past records having the color blue … or the color … white in their makeup … and the area of networking thus energized … stays active … for a short time …
So if the image is clouds in the sky … any records having blue in their makeup is energized … or white … (and if these energized records overlap … further in the network … they generate more energy deeper into that part of the networking … from that point on …) So when records having blue and records having white overlap … reinforcing and directing energy … at that point … deeper in the networking … on a kind of blue and white china … any records having that china in their makeup … are also energized …
Summary
In this way … current incoming conscious instants can instantly update, access and energize the related records … a distinct area of our networking … as if preparing them … to be on-call and ready … in the formation of a new resolution or trail …
And each of these energized areas represent … the related records of the impulse trail … for each originating incoming trail … also stays briefly energized …
And in this way … the current states we’re exposed to … including physical, environmental, informational and social states … routinely, constantly update and go on to energized related records … as if on call …