?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=There+are+no+known+differences+in+brain+mechanisms+of+consciousness+between+humans+and+other+mammals&rft.creator=Baars%2C+Bernard+J.&rft.subject=Comparative+Psychology&rft.description=+Recent+scientific+findings+indicate+that+consciousness+is+a+fundamental+biological+adaptation.+The+known+brain+correlates+of+consciousness+appear+to+be+ancient+phylogenetically%2C+going+back+at+least+to+early+mammals.+In+all+mammals+alertness+and+sensory+consciousness+are+required++for+the+goal-directed+behaviors+that+make+species+survival+and+reproduction+possible.+In+all+mammals+the+anatomy%2C+physiology%2C+neurochemistry+and+electrical+activity+of+the+brain+in+alert+states+shows++striking+similarities.++%0A+%0A+After+more+than+seven+decades+of+cumulative+discoveries+about+waking+and+sensory+consciousness%2C+we+have+not+yet+found+fundamental+differences+between+humans+and+other+mammals.+Species+differences+such+as+the+size+of+neocortex+seem+to+be+irrelevant+to+the+existence+of+alertness+and+sensory+consciousness%2C+though+different+mammals+obviously+specialize+in+different+of+kinds+of+sensory%2C+cognitive+and+motor+abilities.+%0A%0A+Skeptics+sometimes+claim+that+objective+evidence+for+consciousness+tells+us+little+about+subjective+experience%2C+such+as+the+experience+of+conscious+pain.+Scientifically%2C+however%2C+plausible+inferences+are+routinely+based+on+reliable+and+consistent+patterns+of+evidence.+In+other+humans+we+invariably+infer+subjective+experiences+from+objective+behavioral+and+brain+evidence+---++if+someone+yells+Ouch!+after+striking+a+finger+with+a+hammer%2C+we+infer+that+they+feel+pain.+The++brain+and+behavioral+evidence+for+subjective+consciousness+is+essentially+identical+in+humans+and++other+mammals.+On+the+weight+of+the+objective+evidence%2C+therefore%2C+subjective+experience+would+seem+to+be+equally+plausible+in+all+species+with+humanlike+brains+and+behavior.+Either+we+deny+it+to+other+humans+(which+is+rarely+done)%2C+or%2C+to+be+consistent%2C+we+must+also+attribute+it+to+other+species+that+meet+the+same+objective+standards.++It+seems+that+the+burden+of+proof+for+the+absence+of+subjectivity+in+mammals+should+be+placed+on+the+skeptics.+++%0A&rft.publisher=Universities+Foundations+for+Animal+Welfare&rft.contributor=Kirkwood%2C+James&rft.date=2000&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=text%2Fplain&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F912%2F1%2FUFAW_PAPER_final_version_July_12_2000.txt&rft.identifier=++Baars%2C+Bernard+J.++(2000)+There+are+no+known+differences+in+brain+mechanisms+of+consciousness+between+humans+and+other+mammals.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D++++(In+Press)++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F912%2F