Why are some things conscious and others apparently not? Is a rat conscious? A bat? A cockroach? A bacterium? An electron?
These questions are all aspects of the ancient “mind-body problem,” which has resisted a generally satisfying conclusion for thousands of years.
The mind-body problem enjoyed a major rebranding over the last two decades and is generally known now as the “hard problem” of consciousness (usually capitalized nowadays), after the New York University philosopher David Chalmers coined this term in a now classic 1995 paper and his 1996 book The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory.
Fast forward to the present era and we can ask ourselves now: Did the hippies actually solve this problem? My colleague Jonathan Schooler of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and I think they effectively did, with the radical intuition that it’s all about vibrations … man. Over the past decade, we have developed a “resonance theory of consciousness” that suggests that resonance—another word for synchronized vibrations—is at the heart of not only human consciousness but of physical reality more generally.
So how were the hippies right? Well, we agree that vibrations, resonance, are the key mechanism behind human consciousness, as well as animal consciousness more generally. And, as I’ll discuss below, that they are the basic mechanism for all physical interactions to occur.
All things in our universe are constantly in motion, vibrating. Even objects that appear to be stationary are in fact vibrating, oscillating, resonating, at various frequencies. Resonance is a type of motion, characterized by oscillation between two states. And ultimately all matter is just vibrations of various underlying fields.
An interesting phenomenon occurs when different vibrating things/processes come into proximity: they will often start, after a little time, to vibrate together at the same frequency. They “sync up,” sometimes in ways that can seem mysterious. This is described today as the phenomenon of spontaneous self-organization.
Examining this phenomenon leads to potentially deep insights about the nature of consciousness and about the universe more generally.
ALL THINGS RESONATE AT CERTAIN FREQUENCIES
Stephen Strogatz provides various examples from physics, biology, chemistry and neuroscience to illustrate what he calls “sync” (synchrony) in his 2003 book also called Sync, including:
- Fireflies of certain species start flashing their little fires in sync in large gatherings of fireflies, in ways that can be difficult to explain under traditional approaches.
- Large-scale neuron firing can occur in human brains at specific frequencies, with mammalian consciousness thought to be commonly associated with various kinds of neuronal synchrony.
- Lasers are produced when photons of the same power and frequency are emitted together.
- The moon’s rotation is exactly synced with its orbit around the Earth such that we always see the same face.
Resonance is a truly universal phenomenon and at the heart of what can sometimes seem like mysterious tendencies toward self-organization.
Pascal Fries, a German neurophysiologist with the Ernst Strüngmann Institute, has explored in his highly cited work over the last two decades the ways in which various electrical patterns, specifically, gamma, theta and beta waves, work together in the brain to produce the various types of human consciousness.
These names refer to the speed of electrical oscillations in the various brain regions, as measured by electrodes placed on the outside of the skull. Gamma waves are typically defined as about 30 to 90 cycles per second (hertz), theta as a 4- to 7-hz rhythm, and beta as 12.5 to 30 hz. These aren’t hard cutoffs—they’re rules of thumb—and they vary somewhat in different species.
So, theta and beta are significantly slower than gamma waves. But the three work together to produce, or at least facilitate (the exact relationship between electrical brain patterns and consciousness is still very much up for debate), various types of human consciousness.
Fries calls his concept “communication through coherence” or CTC. For Fries it’s all about neuronal synchronization. Synchronization, in terms of shared electrical oscillation rates, allows for smooth communication between neurons and groups of neurons. Without coherence (synchronization), inputs arrive at random phases of the neuron excitability cycle and are ineffective, or at least much less effective, in communication.
Our resonance theory of consciousness builds upon the work of Fries and many others, in a broader approach that can help to explain not only human and mammalian consciousness, but also consciousness more broadly. We also speculate metaphysically about the nature of consciousness as a more general phenomenon of all matter.
ARE ALL THINGS AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT CONSCIOUS?
Based on the observed behavior of the entities that surround us, from electrons to atoms to molecules to bacteria to paramecia to mice, bats, rats, etc., all things may be viewed as at least a little conscious. This sounds strange at first blush, but “panpsychism”—the view that all matter has some associated consciousness—is an increasingly accepted position with respect to the nature of consciousness.
The panpsychist argues that consciousness (subjectivity) did not emerge; rather, it’s always associated with matter, and vice versa (they are two sides of the same coin), but mind as associated with most of the matter in our universe is generally very simple. An electron or an atom, for example, enjoy just a tiny amount of consciousness. But as matter “complexifies,” so mind complexifies, and vice versa.
Biological organisms have leveraged faster information exchange through various biophysical pathways, including electrical and electrochemical pathways. These faster information flows allow for more macro-scale levels of consciousness than would occur in similar-scale structures like boulders or a pile of sand, simply because there is significantly greater connectivity and thus more “going on” in biological structures than in a boulder or a pile of sand. Boulders and piles of sand only have thermal pathways with very limited bandwidth.
Boulders and piles of sand are “mere aggregates” or just collections of more rudimentary conscious entities (probably at the atomic or molecular level only), rather than combinations of micro-conscious entities that combine into a higher level macro-conscious entity, which is the hallmark of biological life.
Accordingly, the type of communication between resonating structures is key for consciousness to expand beyond the rudimentary type of consciousness that we expect to occur in more basic physical structures.
The central thesis of our approach is this: the particular linkages that allow for macro-consciousness to occur result from a shared resonance among many micro-conscious constituents. The speed of the resonant waves that are present is the limiting factor that determines the size of each conscious entity.
As a shared resonance expands to more and more constituents, the particular conscious entity grows larger and more complex. So, the shared resonance in a human brain that achieves gamma synchrony, for example, includes a far larger number of neurons and neuronal connections than is the case for beta or theta rhythms alone.
It’s resonating structures all the way down—and up.
Our resonance theory of consciousness attempts to provide a unified framework that includes neuroscience and the study of human consciousness, but also more fundamental questions of neurobiology and biophysics. It gets to the heart of the differences that matter when it comes to consciousness and the evolution of physical systems.
It is all about vibrations, but it’s also about the type of vibrations and, most importantly, about shared vibrations.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it … man.
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Tam Hunt is a scholar and writer, with a focus on the philosophy of mind, and is affiliated with the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is author of Eco, Ego, Eros: Essays in Philosophy, Spirituality, and Science and blogs at Medium.com.
Recent Articles by Tam Hunt
- How to Make the Study of Consciousness Scientifically Tractable
- Where's My Consciousness-ometer?
FAQs
What is human vibration? ›
Human vibration is defined as the effect of mechanical vibration of the environment on the human body. During our normal daily life, we are exposed to various sources of vibration, for example, in buses, trains, cars. Many people are also exposed to other vibrations during their working day.
What happens when you vibrate at a high frequency? ›The higher the frequency of your energy or vibration, the lighter you feel in your physical, emotional, and mental bodies. You experience greater personal power, clarity, peace, love, and joy. You have little, if any, discomfort or pain in your physical body, and your emotions are easily dealt with.
At what frequency do humans vibrate? ›The important parts of the human body vibration frequency are generally located in about 3 Hz–17 Hz. According to the International Standard ISO 2631 in the vertical vibration of the human body, the sensitive range is located in 6 Hz–8 Hz.
Did Albert Einstein say everything in life is vibration? ›“Everything in Life is Vibration” – Albert Einstein
These atoms are in a constant state of motion, and depending on the speed of these atoms, things are appear as a solid, liquid, or gas.
Vibrations are all around us. We can detect vibrations with sensitive skin mechanoreceptors, but our conscious awareness of the presence of vibrations is often limited.
What is the highest vibrational emotion? ›Gratitude is by far the most powerful emotion to measure a vibrational shift. We normally give thanks when we receive something, but if you feel gratitude out of choice, your body shifts into receptive mode as the emotional signature of gratitude is positive. This is what makes gratitude so powerful.
What are the traits of a high vibrational person? ›High vibrations are generally associated with positive qualities and feelings, such as love, forgiveness, compassion and peace. On the other hand, low vibrations are associated with darker qualities such as hatred, fear, greed and depression.
How to vibrate higher spiritually? ›- Gratitude. Gratitude is one of the quickest ways to amp up your vibration. ...
- Love. ...
- Generosity. ...
- Meditation and Breathwork. ...
- Forgiveness. ...
- Eat High-Vibe Food. ...
- Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol and Toxins from Your Body. ...
- Think Positive Thoughts.
You know your vibration is high when someone comments that you give off a good vibe or bring a lively, positive energy to the day. Your vibration is your mental and emotional state of being, so when it's high, you'll feel more confident and in touch with yourself.
What is a spiritual vibration? ›The basic concept of vibrational frequency – as a spiritual phenomenon – is that our body is made of molecules, which are vibrating constantly, and creating electromagnetic energy waves.
What is the law of vibration? ›
Every thought or mental state has a corresponding rate and mode of vibration. The higher the vibration, the longer lasting the effects are. The lower the vibration, the more potent the effects are in the short term.
Is vibration a form of energy? ›In simple terms, sound energy comes from vibrations moving through something. Solids, liquids, and gases all transmit sound as energy waves. Sound energy is the result when a force, either sound or pressure, makes an object or substance vibrate.
Do we live in vibrational Universe? ›All things in our universe are constantly in motion, vibrating. Even objects that appear to be stationary are in fact vibrating, oscillating, resonating, at various frequencies. Resonance is a type of motion, characterized by oscillation between two states.
Do thoughts have a frequency? ›Our thoughts and feelings all have frequency, just like sound and light, radio or ultraviolet waves, a thought vibrates through the mind and whether we're aware of it or not, our thinking manifests into reality.
Is there any science behind vibration? ›Researchers have found that vibrations and the electromagnetic energy associated with them cause changes in your cells, which can then affect how your body functions. Different molecules vibrate at different rates — and those rates can speed up or slow down if conditions around the molecules change.
Do humans release vibrations? ›It is known that the human body can generate mechanical vibrations at very low frequencies, so-called infrasonic waves. Such low-frequency vibrations are produced by physiological processes—heartbeats, respiratory movements, blood flow in vessels, and other processes.
Can other people's vibrations affect you? ›The people around you directly influence your vibrational frequency. If you surround yourself with happy, positive, determined people, you will also enter into that vibration.
What did Albert Einstein say about vibration? ›“Everything in Life is Vibration” – Albert Einstein.
What is the strongest emotion a human can feel? ›Generally, people tend to view anger as one of our strongest and most powerful emotions. Anger is a natural and "automatic" human response, and can in fact, serve to help protect us from harm. While angry behavior can be destructive, angry feelings themselves are merely a signal that we may need to do something.
What colors have the highest vibration? ›Violet light has the highest energy, frequency and vibration and the shortest wavelength of visible light. Beyond the visible spectrum, ultra-violet is even shorter wave and higher frequency and energy, in fact its energy is so high it can burn our skin very quickly and kill bacteria.
How do you know if you have a low vibrational person? ›
Headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, skin problems, sleep disturbances, low libido, and frequent illness are common symptoms of low vibration. All of them can be traced back to energy.
What is your vibrational energy? ›Your body is made of particles that are in constant motion as they “vibrate” and create energy—this is referred to as your vibrational field. These energy fields aren't just physical. They're also spiritual and help determine how you perceive the world and how others see you.
What is high vibrational love? ›Unconditional love and compassion are among the highest vibrations of love and are not subject to preconditions, limitations, or requirements of others. They serve the greater interest and benefit of all sentient beings and the environment in which they exist.
How do you attract good vibrations? ›- 1) Be grateful. This is an important one to make a habit out of. ...
- 2) Meditate. ...
- 3) Connect with nature. ...
- 4) Self-care. ...
- 5) Visualise the life you want. ...
- 6) Drink water and eat healthily. ...
- 7) Exercise. ...
- 8) Listen to music.
Experience thankfulness and gratitude. State what you are grateful for throughout the day. Move your body: walk, dance, run, stretch, swim, skip, cycle – or just jump up and down.
Do you attract what you vibrate? ›The law of attraction states that the universe responds to whatever you are offering — by giving you more of whatever you are vibrating. It doesn't care whether it is good for you or not; it simply responds to your vibration. If you saw the film The Secret, you saw this explained in great detail.
How do I test my vibration? ›- Launch the Settings.
- Locate and tap Accessibility.
- Scroll down a bit and tap Vibration & haptic strength.
- From there, enable Ring vibration, Notification vibration, and Touch feedback.
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Vibration & haptic strength.
- Review or change the following settings: Ring vibration. Notification vibration. Touch feedback.
The human body is no different. Interestingly enough, each organ has its own optimal frequency range.
How do you master your vibration? ›- Be aware of your thoughts. Our thoughts fuel our frequency, whatever thoughts you have will tint your reality. ...
- Start your day with gratitude. Being in a human body is the most precious gift that your soul has received. ...
- Practice forgiveness. ...
- Be kind.
What does vibration feel like? ›
Internal vibrations are like tremors that happen inside your body. You can't see internal vibrations, but you can feel them. They produce a quivering sensation inside your arms, legs, chest, or abdomen.
What are the three examples of vibration? ›Examples of these types of vibration include a washing machine shaking due to an imbalance, transportation vibration caused by an engine or uneven road, or the vibration of a building during an earthquake.
Can vibrations heal? ›Vibration massage has long been understood to help increase circulation, which helps healing. It has also been used to speed the healing of bone fractures. However, studies have also shown that the daily application of 20 minutes vibration will also: increase wound healing.
How do you turn vibration into energy? ›Vibration powered generators contain a resonator which is used to amplify the vibration source, and a transducer device which changes the energy from the vibrations into electrical energy. The transducer usually consists of a magnet and coil or a piezoelectric crystal.
Can you see vibrational energy? ›Vibrational energy manifests an unseen force that drives all physical matter to convulse in different frequencies. It can all be concluded as a state of being or present, the environment, or the energetic quality of a person, atmosphere, place, thought, or act.
Do humans emit a frequency? ›By testing the response of the human body on a vibrating platform, many researchers found the human whole-body fundamental resonant frequency to be around 5 Hz.
Who can feel the vibration on the ground? ›This is how snakes hear. They do not have external ears (which you can see). They only feel the vibrations on the ground.
Can thoughts control reality? ›“The American psychologist and philosopher William James said that thoughts become perception, perception becomes reality. Your thoughts alter your reality. The world which we live in, its quality and character is nothing but a reflection of our own minds.
Can your brain hear your thoughts? ›We can “hear” our internal monologue without speaking
Corollary discharge is a predictive signal generated by the brain that helps us better understand our environment and surroundings. This unique signal is also used as part of our auditory system, assisting in processing information and speech.
The mind is much more powerful than most people might imagine. Within our minds we have the ability to change our perception of reality as well as to gain a much deeper understanding of what underlies our thoughts and actions. Therapy with hypnosis can prepare us to better use our mind power.
What are the four types of vibration? ›
A vibrating motion can be oscillating, reciprocating, or periodic. Vibration can also be either harmonic or random. Harmonic vibration occurs when a vibration's frequency and magnitude are constant.
What does it mean when a person has high vibration? ›High vibrations are generally associated with positive qualities and feelings, such as love, forgiveness, compassion and peace. On the other hand, low vibrations are associated with darker qualities such as hatred, fear, greed and depression.
What are the 3 main characteristics of vibrations? ›The terms used to describe this movement are frequency, amplitude and acceleration.
How can you tell if someone is high vibrational? ›- Animals and children are drawn to you. ...
- Strangers easily approach you. ...
- You experience synchronicities. ...
- New relationships feel effortless. ...
- Everything is working out in your favor.
The basic concept of vibrational frequency – as a spiritual phenomenon – is that our body is made of molecules, which are vibrating constantly, and creating electromagnetic energy waves.
How do you control your frequency? ›- Gratitude. Gratitude is one of the quickest ways to amp up your vibration. ...
- Love. ...
- Generosity. ...
- Meditation and Breathwork. ...
- Forgiveness. ...
- Eat High-Vibe Food. ...
- Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol and Toxins from Your Body. ...
- Think Positive Thoughts.
In simple terms, sound energy comes from vibrations moving through something. Solids, liquids, and gases all transmit sound as energy waves. Sound energy is the result when a force, either sound or pressure, makes an object or substance vibrate. That energy moves through the substance in waves.
What energy does vibration have? ›These vibrations generate electromagnetic energy waves . Researchers have found that vibrations and the electromagnetic energy associated with them cause changes in your cells, which can then affect how your body functions.
What are the two types of vibration? ›Vibrations fall into two categories: free and forced. Free vibrations occur when the system is disturbed momentarily and then allowed to move without restraint. A classic example is provided by a weight suspended from a spring. In equilibrium, the system has minimum energy and the weight is at rest.