Can one feel/experience "any" neuronal activity in oneself?
1 Answer
Without neural activity you wouldn't experience or perceive anything. Perception in itself is a reflection of neuronal activity. If you are referring to the question whether you can feel a neuron fire - then no, that is not possible. To 'experience' neuronal activity you should record it. There are a wide variety of methods to do that: EEG, MEG, fMRI, PET etc.
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$\begingroup$ Thank you. However a siezure in an an epileptic patient must be experienced by the subject as something? Wondering if this qualifies as an experience of neuronal activity? $\endgroup$– zriniNov 9, 2014 at 2:30
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$\begingroup$ Epileptic seizures can be perceived as long as they are not generalized, i.e. when the patient remains conscious. The patient may then perceive the seizure's effects on body and mind. However, perception is mediated through neural activity. Therefore, the reverse cannot be true. Perception is neural activity. $\endgroup$– AliceD ♦Nov 9, 2014 at 2:49
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$\begingroup$ Thanks again for making a clear point that the neural activity that forms perception itself cannot be directly perceived. If there is any literature on these lines it will be most appreciated. Also, there must be some activity that must be doing other functions, like memory and change, and pathological examples such as seizures. Can they be perceived under some conditions? Though I said neural activity, tjhe experience itself maybe of an electro-chemical, muscular motion - only direct and closer to the primary neural activity and not as a far removed symptom. $\endgroup$– zriniNov 9, 2014 at 12:29
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$\begingroup$ Please formulate a clear question as your comment is becoming increasingly vague. Asking new questions in the comments is not the best way to go either. $\endgroup$– AliceD ♦Nov 9, 2014 at 12:45
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$\begingroup$ Sorry about that. But question is still the same. You had addressed the subset of neural activity that results in perception and said it cannot be perceived. Was asking about other cases such as memory in the comment and if there are any pointers. $\endgroup$– zriniNov 9, 2014 at 12:52