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For Immediate Release Contact: Abi Behar Montefiore 520-621-9317
Toward a Science of Consciousness 2010
April 12-17, 2010
Tucson Convention Center and Hotel Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Sponsored by the Center for Consciousness Studies, The University of Arizona
www.consciousness.arizona.edu
The program for the ninth biennial interdisciplinary conference Toward a Science of Consciousness 2010
is complete. Held in even-numbered years since 1994, the Tucson conferences are the major world
gatherings on a broad spectrum of approaches to the fundamental question of how the brain produces
conscious experience, a question which addresses who we are, the nature of reality and our place
in the universe. An estimated 700 scientists, philosophers, psychologists, experientialists,
artists and others from 43 countries on 6 continents will participate in 400 presentations included
in 17 Pre-Conference Workshops, 12 Plenary or Keynote sessions, 21 Concurrent Talk sessions,2 Poster
Sessions, 3 Art-Tech interactive sessions and special evening performances.
Abstracts for all presentations will be posted at www.consciousness.arizona.edu
Plenary Program Overview
Highlights of the 2010 Plenary Program will include Keynote speaker Antonio Damasio, the esteemed
neurologist and best-selling author on how the Self arises from layers of processes from brainstem
to cortex. Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning science fiction
writer whose works (Flashforward, Mindscan, Hominids etc)
feature various science-based aspects of consciousness.
Twin Keynotes by two prominent neuroscientists will present opposing views of an essential question
arising from functional brain imaging: how does brain activity measured in the absence of sensory
inputs relate to consciousness? Marcus Raichle describes this brain Dark Energy (see his cover piece
in the March 2010 Scientific American) as default networks mediating thinking and daydreaming,
toggling back-and-forth with stimulus-related processing and tasks. Robert G. Shulman contends that
the underlying activity is a foundational substrate for all conscious processes which require critical
levels of brain energy. A related Plenary Session is Mindwandering, conscious activity independent of
sensory stimuli (Jonathan Schooler,Malia Mason,Jonathan Smallwood).
In Bodily Consciousness, Henrik Ehrsson will discuss and extend his well-known work on inducing
out-of-body experiences in normal subjects, while Frederique de Vignemont will distinguish different
forms of conscious body awareness. Multi-Modal Experience will include synesthate and author
Patricia Lynne Duffy describing her personal experience with fused and cross-wired senses, as well as
how synesthesia affects and enables artists, writers, performers and scientists.Other speakers
(Barry Stein,Casey OCallaghan, Michael Proulx) will address the neuroscience and philosophical
analysis of synesthesia, and how clinically-induced cross-modal perception can help blindness and
other sensory defects.
Consciousness and Transformation will review long-term changes induced by meditation
(Cassandra Vieten),and analyze claims of enlightenment,mystical and transcendental experience
(Jeffrey Martin). The session concludes with Za Rinpoche, a Tibetan Lama recognized in 1984
by the Dalai Lama as the sixth reincarnation of Zachoeje Lama. Author of Backdoor to Enlightenment,
Za Rinpoche will discuss Buddhist perspectives on consciousness, enlightenment and reincarnation.
Machine Consciousness will feature IBM researcher Dharmendra Modha on efforts to simulate the brain
through neuron-by-neuron reconstruction, and philosopher David Chalmers discussing prospects for a
technological Singularity, the idea that human-level artificial intelligence (AI) will rapidly spiral
to superintelligence. AI researcher Ben Goertzel will describe mobile bubbles of executive function
moving through computer architectures.
Theories of Consciousness features Sid Kouider summarizing and critiquing prevalent neurocognitive
theories,and Marc Ebner with simulations of consciousness as a mobile zone of synchrony moving through
the brain. Philosopher Galen Strawson will address philosophical theories of consciousness, focusing
especially on panpsychism.
New Directions in Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC) Research is a panel of fresh ideas from
young researchers.In the context of default networks, Michal Gruberger will discuss the use of deep
trans-cranial magnetic stimulation inhibiting prefrontal cortex in human subjects, with alterations
in measures related to the sense of self. Philosophers Adrienne Prettyman and Stephen Biggs will
analyze the claim that default networks represent the baseline state of the brain. Moran Cerf will
report on recordings from single neurons in conscious human subjects, showing how activity in
medial temporal lobe can regulate sensory entry into conscious awareness. Finally,
Anirban Bhandyophadyay will discuss molecular nanobrains,and new experimental results suggesting
microtubules are the missing fourth circuit element.
The William James Centennial session will open the Plenary Program as a tribute to the father of
American psychology and philosophy who died in 1910. Eugene Taylor will discuss James in the context
of modern approaches, Bernard Baars will describe how James disillusionment led to behaviorism
which banished consciousness from science for seven decades. Bruce Mangan concludes with what
James termed the fringe, cognitive information just outside consciousness which, Mangan argues,
illuminates insight and mystical experience.
For further information, see www.consciousness.arizona.edu
Day-by-day full program follows below.
Subject to change
Registration must be completed by March 1 for inclusion in the program
Pre-conference workshops will be held in 3 half day sessions Monday morning and afternoon April 12,
and Tuesday morning April 13. (The conference Plenary Program begins Tuesday afternoon April 13.)
Workshops are each focused on particular areas, and presented by well known, and lesser known,
authorities from the world over.
Pre-Conference Workshops
Monday, April 12, 2010
9 am to 1 pm, Tucson Convention Center (TCC)
Pre-Conference Workshop Session 1
1. Selective Attention, Christof Koch TCC Maricopa
2. Lucid Dreaming, Stephen LaBerge TCC Mohave
3. Biofeedback and Mindfulness, Keya Maitra, Connie Schrader TCC Coconino
4a. Transforming consciousness, Stanley Krippner, Frank Echenhofer et al, Part 1 TCC Graham
5a. Psychedelics in the mainstream, Thomas Roberts James Fadiman, Part 1 TCC Greenlee
2 pm to 6 pm, TCC and HA
Pre-conference Workshop Session 2 TCC and Hotel Arizona (HA)
6. Neuroimaging of meditation, David Hubbard, Alarik Arenander TCC Maricopa
7. Neural basis of repression and dissociation, Heather Berlin, Michael Anderson TCC Coconino
8. Yoga Asanas, Siegried Bleher HA Starlight Ballroom
9.a Microtubules and quantum biology, Stuart Hameroff, Jack Tuszynski et al, Part 1 TCC Mohave
4b. Transforming consciousness, Stanley Krippner, Frank Echenhofer et al, Part 2 TCC Graham
5b. Psychedelics in mainstream, Thomas Roberts, James Fadiman, Part 2 TCC Greenlee
10a. A Victorian’s guide to consciousness, Pim van Lommel, Allan Combs HA GrandBallroom West
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pre-Conference Workshop Session 3
9 am to 1 pm, TCC and HA
11. Global broadcasting in brain, Bernard Baars, Katherine McGovern TCC Maricopa
12. Why synesthesia matters, Sean Day, Patricia Duffy, Maureen Seaberg et al TCC Gila
13. Experimenting with endogenic experience, Talma Hendler, Abraham Zangen et al TCC Coconino
9b. Microtubules and quantum biology; Stuart Hameroff, Jack Tuszynski et al, Part 2 TCC Mohave
10. Philosophical theories of consciousness, Joshua Weisberg, Uriah Kriegel TCC Greenlee
11. Imperience: Self-transformation Pranahuti meditation, K. Madhava, K. Mannur et al, HA - Starlight Ballroom
10b. A Victorian’s guide to consciousness, Pim van Lommel, Allan Combs et al, Part 2 HA - Grand Ballroom West
1:45 pm to 4:10 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Conference opening, Plenary Session 1
William James Centennial: Eugene Taylor, Bernard Baars, Bruce Mangan
4:30 pm to 6:35 pm, TCC and HA
Concurrent session 1-7
1 Consciousness and thought/representation: Spackman, Kobes, Brogaard, Goff, Pitt TCC Mohave
2 Materialism, dualism, HOT: Weisberg, Molyneux, Fiala, Gennaro, Kiefer HA Grand Ballroom West
3 Neurobiology, theories of consciousness: Josipovic, Buracas, Bieberich, Alto, Brown TCC Maricopa
4 Unconscious processes: Daltrozzo, Gorbunova, Shin, Walling, Polito TCC Graham
5 AI and computational models: Samsonovich, Wang, Dominey, Pearce, Maimon TCC Gila
6 Art, media and conscious perception: Pepperell, Kerwin, Patten, Steen, Van Schie TCC Coconino
7 Altered states of consciousness: Baggott, Turausky, Lavallee, Roberts, Perry HA Grand Ballroom East
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, HA Starlight Ballroom Garden Patio/Courtyard
Welcome Reception
9:30 pm to 11:00 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Club Consciousness 1
Robin Kelly
Jeff Warren,‘The wheel of consciousness’
Wednesday April 14, 2010
8:30 am to 10:40 am, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 2, Twin Keynotes:
Marcus Raichle: Brain dark energy and default networks
Robert G. Shulman: Baseline brain energy supporting the state of consciousness
11:10 am to 12:30 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 3
Bodily consciousness: Frédérique de Vignemont, Henrik Ehrsson
2:00 pm to 4:10 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 4
Machine consciousness and the ‘Singularity’: David Chalmers, Dharmendra Modha, Ben Goertzel
4:30 pm to 6:35 pm, TCC and HA rooms
Concurrent Sessions 8-15
8 Introspection: Horgan, Schwitzgebel, Siewert, Spener, Adams TCC Maricopa
9 Panpsychism: Seager, Bruentrup, Buck, Robinson, Faw TCC Mohave
10 First-person methodology: Heavey, Coseru, Kordes, Mrazak, Gomes HA - Cholla
11 Dreaming: Kahn, D'Agostino, Zadra, Kozmova, Gackenbach HA - Manzanita
12 Neural correlates: Hubbard, Craigmyle, Mossbridge, Fekete, Saunders HA - Octillo
13 Quantum/Subcellular: Neven, Castagnoli, Salari, Bernroider, Craddock, Woolf TCC - Leo Rich Theatre
14 Contemplation, religion: Shear, Klein, Bahir, Maitra, Seaberg, Bhamidipati HA - Grand Ballroom West
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Poster session 1, TCC TCC Greenlee/Graham/Coconino/Gila
For Poster Schedule see www.consciousness.arizona.edu
7:00-9:30
BIOSCAPES / INSTALLATIONS TCC Apache/Cochise
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, TCC
Art/Tech/Demo Sessions 1 and 2 TCC Mohave/Maricopa
1 Kerwin-Masterson, Kelly, Grossberger, Coates, Lupe
2 Vaughn, Hurlburt, Taylor, Walters
9:45 pm to 11:30 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Club Consciousness 2
Vanda Mikolowski,‘Enlighten up!’ Consciousness comedy
Chase Masterson,‘Song stylings from Star Trek’
Thursday, April 15, 2010
8:30 am to 11:00 am, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary 5
Multimodal experience: Patricia Lynne Duffy, Barry Stein, Casey O'Callaghan,
Michael Proulx
11:30 am to 12:50 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Afternoon free
Side trips: Mt. Lemmon/ Sabino Canyon/ Desert Jeep Tour
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, The elegant Westin La Paloma Resort and Hotel
Conference Banquet
10:30 pm, HA
Hospitality Suite
Friday, April 16, 2010
8:30 am to 10:40 am, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 7
Consciousness and Transformation: Cassie Vieten, Jeffrey Martin, Za Rinpoche
11:10 am to 12:30 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 8, Keynote
Antonio Damasio: The neural self
2:00 pm to 4:10 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 9
Theories of Consciousness: Sid Kouider, Marc Ebner, Galen Strawson
4:30 pm to 6:35 pm
Concurrent Sessions 15-21,
15 Consciousness and the self: Carter, Williford, Albahari, Fasching, Woodruff-Smith TCC-Maricopa
16 Ontology of perception: Bricklin, Stubenberg, Grube, Manzotti, Siegel TCC-Mohave
17 Neurobiology, theories of consciousness: Young, Kozuch, Van Gulick, Sytsma, Hung Leo Rich
18 Psychotherapy and transformation: Mender, Johnson, Thurston, Beal, Kotagiri HA - Cholla
19 Mind-wandering: Langland-Hassan, Song, Klonowski, Franklin, Troyer HA - Octillo
20 Evolution of consciousness: Whitehead, Beran, McVeigh, Platt, McBeath HA - Grand Ballroom West
21 Nonlocal/Psi: van Lommel, Schwartz, Boccuzzi, Beischel, Delorme HA - Grand Ballroom East
7:00 pm to 9:45 pm
Poster Session 2 TCC-Greenlee, Graham, Gila, Coconino
See www.consciousness.arizona.edu for Poster Session schedule
7:00 - 9:30
BIOSCAPES / INSTALLATIONS TCC - Apache/Cochise
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm,
Art/Tech/Demo Session 3 TCC - Maricopa
Creath, Perkins, Curtis, Girao, Betz
10:00 pm to 11:30 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Club Consciousness 3
Warm-up poetry performance Máighréad Medbh
Poetry Slam, Talent Show, Zombie Blues
Saturday April 17, 2010
8:30 am to 10:40 am, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 10
New directions in NCC research: Gruberger, Prettyman/Biggs, Cerf, Bandyopadyay
11:10 am to 12:30 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 11, Keynote
Robert J Sawyer: Science Fiction and Consciousness
2:00 pm to 4:10 pm, TCC Leo Rich Theater
Plenary Session 12
Mindwandering: Jonathan Schooler, Malia Mason, Jonathan Smallwood
8:00 pm to ???, Maynards at the Depot
End-of-consciousness party
Jazz, Lite Rock, Heavy Philo, Dancing DJ, Kris Patten, Fuzzy Robot Sound Labs and Band, Pub Crawl
BIOSCAPES
http://consciousness.arizona.edu/TSC2010ARTTECH.htm TCC - Apache/Cochise
The conference will host BIOSCAPES, the international traveling exhibit of outstanding images and videos
from the Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition®, a world-wide contest for the best microscopic images.
For the Tucson conference, images and video related to consciousness, awareness, brain, neurons and glia have
been selected. Abi Behar Montefiore is organizing the Bioscapes installation that will later be shown at the
University Medical Center. Tucson-based computer artist Lucia Grossberger Morales produced the DVD installation.
Grossberger Morales will also present her own installation ‘Meditations on Computer Patterns.’
MORNING EXPERIENTIAL SESSIONS
By popular demand and especially for weary travelers, guided yoga and meditation sessions will be offered
each morning.
WEBINAR Fellows
Finally, opportunity to connect in person ..participants in Center for Consciousness Studies Webcourses
presented in the past five years by Professor Bernard J Baars are invited for informal gatherings before
the social events (TBA).
HOSPITALITY SUITE
The Conference Hospitality Suite on the 9th floor of Hotel Arizona will welcome our attendees – times TBA,
organized by U of A Philosophy graduate Czarina Sharpe.
www.consciousness.arizona.edu
center@email.arizona.edu
Conference Program Committee
Stuart Hameroff - Co-chair
David Chalmers - Co-chair
Abi Montefiore - Conference Manager
Bernard J. Baars
Anthony Freeman
Al Kaszniak
Christof Koch
Uriah Kriegel
Hakwan Lau
Marilyn Schlitz
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