New Theory of the Mind - Two Speeds of Thought and Para-Consciousness

The following is an original theory of the mind from the authors.

The complete theory includes two inter-dependant theories of the mind: The Two Speeds of Thought Theory and The Para-Consciousness Theory:

Assumptions:

Firstly, we assume that there is a causal relation between thought processes and their conclusion.

Secondly, we assume that the thought processe's cause and effect are separated by time, therefore time is taken between thinking and concluding the thought. The awareness of a process occurs over time. Consciousness therefore takes time.

Defintions:

Thought processes include:

1. Recollection concluding with memories (remembering).
2. Memory generation.
3. Logical deduction or induction (cognition).
4. Conscious awareness of thought processes and their conclusions.
5. Emotion generation and awareness, sustained or not.
6. Imagination.
7. Visualisation.

Two Speeds of Thought:

Assuming these assumptions to be true, we propose the following: There are at least two speeds of thought:

1. The speed when thought processes bring conclusions (such as memories) to conscious awareness, so that the conclusions are experienced consciously and experienced for a sustained time through becoming repeatedly memorised experiences themselves.
In other words, this is the normal speed of thought when we recall memories and are able to dwell on them.

2. The speed of thought processes that occur so fast, and produce typical conclusions in cognition and memory, that they are not sustained enough to become memories themselves and therefore do not make it into conscious awareness, where conscious awareness refers to thought processes that are remembered. They are processed and concluded, but forgotten.

What this second speed means is that some thought processes, thinking, occur and produce results and typical conclusions of some thought activity like cognition, without our recollection of the awareness of those processes.

This second speed explains why we become aware of cognitive results, but not the processes that led to them.

Example, you try to recall a memory, but can't. So you direct your mind to other activites. Later, the memory comes to you seemingly out of  nowhere. This happens often in answering game show questions on the TV.

Para-Consciousness:

The second speed explains why some thought activity conclusions appear in your consciousness without you recalling undertaking the process itself.

The second speed also explains how you think of a word or its concept and an associated memory appears. The appearance of the associated memory is the result of an activity of thought process that occurred too fast to remember and therefore too fast for sustained awareness.

In other words, your brain or mind can think at a speed so fast you can't remember it happening.

This theory is similar but distinct from the unconscious mind theory.

You are conscious of the thought process, but it occurs too fast to be remembered, so it appears to be unconscious. It is not unconscious. It is conscious, but it occurs too fast to be remembered.

Evidence:

We have no empirically verifiable evidence to support this theory currently, so it remains a hypothesis. However, We can define the conditions by which the theory would be proved by experiment.

Proof Experiment:

If we assume that thought processes and their conclusions can be represented by discrete electrically charged signals in the sections of the brain relevant to their nature, then the proof experiment would consist in measuring the signals of both in real-time, using existing cerebral signal sensors from a patient who is asked to answer certain questions and timing the process.

Examples of these questions could include: Think of the concept Happiness and tell us what memory first comes into your awareness.

This form of question would confirm that time is taken between thought processes and conclusions.

A second set of questions would be asked to confirm the conclusion of thought processes that are not remembered.

An example question could be: Will a right-handed glove turned inside out still fit the right hand?

This type of question must require thought processes, such as logic and imagination, and must be answered immediately, without spending time processing related thoughts. The answers will be intuitive.

The question if answered correctly would prove that a process of thinking occurred, but too fast to be remembered and therefore to be made aware.

The experiment has its own assumptions and limitations based on the patient, including comprehension of the questions, the questions can be answered, answering the question immediately, following the instructions and without distraction, and telling the truth.

Critique of the Theory of Memory by Association:

We know through scientific investigation that it is widely accepted in the field of psychology that memories are associated with other similar memories, thus we can remember something by associating it with another memory.

What has not been explained is the connection between the two associated memories.

Nor is it adequately explained why a concept can trigger a memory.

The explanation of the term association or similarity is not enough. How does one lead to the other?

The Two Speeds of Thought and Para-Consciousness theories can explain this missing link between associated memories and concepts.

Critique of the Theory of Unconsciousness:

Unconsciousness is the mainstream theory that thought processes occur without any conscious awareness.

The Para-Conscious theory proposes that these thought processes occur with awareness, but at such a speed they are not remembered. This gives the impression that they occurred without awareness. But it is just the speed of thought that makes this impression.

Unconsciousness does not explain how thought conclusions are generated. Without awareness of thought processes, they could not have been generated. Unconsciousness entails that thought processes do not occur, for if they did, we would be aware of them.

Para-Consciousness proposes that they do appear, but are forgotten immediately.