Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
From: David@longley.demon.co.uk (David Longley)
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!news.mathworks.com!gatech!swrinde!pipex!news.sprintlink.net!demon!news.demon.co.uk!longley.demon.co.uk!David
Subject: Re: Thought Question
References: <9504080348596.The_Win-D.chris000@delphi.com> <3m6a15$fil@life.ai.mit.edu> <hubey.798393238@pegasus.montclair.edu>
Organization: Relational Technology
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Date: Tue, 2 May 1995 06:03:59 +0000
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In article <hubey.798393238@pegasus.montclair.edu>
           hubey@pegasus.montclair.edu "H. M. Hubey" writes:
> 
> It would mean that the so-called autonomic [nervous] system is not so
> autonomic as to be completely independent of the what we call the
> conscious or volitional system.  Blisters and welts are supposed to
> form automatically without any conscious effort or will on our part.
> 
> 
> OF course, there's other evidence that the autonomic processes can
> be controlled by the conscious/volitional system. For example, almost
> every mystical order knows about breath control in attaining control
> over things like heart rate etc.
> 
<snip>> 
> 
> I actually experimented with self-hypnosis years ago to see if there 
> was anything to being able to extend conscious control over other
> systems. The results were mixed. Self-hypnosis does work to a degree
> in the sense that "keeping a dream alive", or "positive self-image", 
> even daydreaming is all a part of suggesting possible outcomes
> to the brain, and working toward a goal. 
> --

Well, apart from the evidence I cited a few articles back, there is very
*little* in the operant conditioning literature to suggest that there is
any possibility of direct *volitional* control over the autonomic NS. In
cases akin to the above (ie bio-feedback), the suggestion has been  that
control of autonomic function is achieved indirectly through  relaxation
or breathing or some other striped musculature control. Any comments?
-- 
David Longley
