THE NATURE OF PERCEPTION
...beneath that slight confusion [regarding the many different TYPES of perception in both the quantitative and qualitative sense] is another more fundamental one -- an almost universal mis-understanding regarding what perception is and is all about.
In other words, PERCEPTION is so fundamental to our species that it is practically synonymous with FUNCTIONAL LIFE itself.
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In that eye-perception has been the dominant model for perception during the modern period, it's worthwhile walking step-by-step through its so-called "mechanics" or "mechanisms." "Functions" would be a far better term as we shall see ahead.
To begin with, it is commonly thought that the eye sees images of the objects they scan or focus upon.
However, the eye itself does not form images. Rather it is composed of a collection of extremely tiny light-sensitive parts, called rods and cones, etc., that detect various kinds of light reflecting off of various kinds of objects and things. Taken altogether, these can be called "photosensors."
What the light-sensitive parts are thus "seeing" is not an image but interactions between the objects and the light they are reflecting. The interactions of the reflecting light are known as "interference patterns."
So what is actually going on, as:
Step 1, is that interference patterns of light bouncing off of objects are taking place, and is these patterns that are picked up by the light-sensitive parts of the eye -- and which at this point should be referred to as a "light interference pattern detector." So, the light-sensitive parts of the eye are also light interference patterns. That reflecting light patterns are the essential ingredient becomes quite clear if you step into a completely darkened room and close the door behind you. Zippo! No interference patterns, no "eye vision."
As step 2, the light-sensitive parts of the eye are not actually "parts," but at least a hundred million light-sensitive cells, each of which, or teams of which, are precisely geared only with regard to this or that particular kind of light within the light-interference patterns. This is to say that the patterns themselves have now been broken down into a hundred million separate light segments or aspects. Another way of putting this is that the light has now been broken down and divided up into a vast number of extremely minuscule "dots."
As step 3, EACH of the dots is immediately converted into a particular kind of electrical signal pattern, a hundred million of them.
As step 4, all of these minuscule electrical signals are transmitted in a rapid but hyper-organized way via a complicated system of "relay" cells to another complicated set of relay cells alongside the brain-stem.
A complicated set of nomenclature for these relay-transmitting cells has been developed. But basically they belong to the ganglion system of cells, each of which, or sets of which, are interested solely in specific signals. Some of these have to do only with dividing differences of contrasts of light and shade; others have to do with dividing the signals into further categories of color.
As step 5, at this point each of the signal dots have been "cued" as to where they belong and interface among all of the signals.
As step 6, the whole of this is now forwarded or transmitted to the cells of the cortex lining the surface of the back parts of the brain -- i.e., transmitted to the back of your "head." The sectors of the cortex having to do only with "vision" are referred to as the visual cortex -- even though what we refer to as vision doesn't exactly take place among them.
Even though the mass of signals have arrived at the visual cortex, "vision" does not yet take place.
If all this is complex enough so far, what now takes place gets really complex.
As step 7, the more "simple" cells "respond" to particular simple features of the incoming signals, at which point the signals begin to take on what we refer to as information. Some of the cells respond to straight lines, curves, given kinds of angles, or a dividing line between areas of light and darkness.
If these have more complex or more specific relationships arrangements, more "complex" counterparts to the "simple" cells are required. The complex cells respond, for example, to given shapes of given colors. Other specializing complex cells are interested in whether no motion is involved or if motion is involved. Some of the complex cells only respond to motion moving to the left; others only to motion moving to the right. Others have to do with up/down motion. And on and on and on. Some cells are interested only in what is signaled is dead or alive.
However, even though the "information" is somewhat organized into "bits" at this point, "image" or "image-perception" does not yet occur.
As step 8, the whole of the output of the simple and complex cells is forwarded to MEMORY STORAGE where, apparently, the bits are compared to bits stored in memory. This process goes on until the incoming bits find a "match" in memory storage, or a "match" that is nearest to/similar to the incoming bits. When compatible bits are located and compared to the incoming bits, what is called "recognition" now begins to take place.
As matches are found, and as step 9, what apparently is somewhat akin to a hologram begins to form, in which all of the incoming bits compatible with memory storage bits are now...
Reconstructed or Fabricated into...
as step 10, the "image" that is now formed or projected into the hologram -- and which in our modern epoch is referred to as "mental image picture."
If all goes well enough from step 1 through step 10, then we have what we mistakenly call "eye vision" -- but which, beyond any scientific doubt now, is an interiorily reconstructed "hologram" of some kind -- "hologram" being the best term to date. The holograms that don't completely form up (for any number of reasons) are what we call "impressions" in order to distinguish them from an "image."
But there IS one factor that makes it seem there is a one-to-one relationship between the actual object being "seen" and the hologramic reconstruction of it. This factor is the utterly mind-boggling speed that incorporates steps 1 through 10. Although the speed of the "recognition" sometimes varies in minuscule ways, the whole of all this takes place within nanoseconds or even in fractions of them.
Now, there remain some enormous complexities. The entirety of what happens via steps 1 through 10 is scientifically understood, mapped and predictable. At least two important factors are yet missing:
1. In spite of the enormous research funds to discover what it is, no one knows what MEMORY is or where it is "stored."
2. Not known either is where the reconstructed holograms form, and why they do.
What IS known, though, is that everything we "perceive," absolutely everything, is "information" that has been reconstructed into formats recognizable only against memory storage. And what is also known is that step 10 is the LAST step in this processes, not the second step. And whether concerning eye vision or not, everything that manifests in our heads takes place because of all ten steps, whether concerning our ideas, imagination, illusions, concepts, "understanding," and ALL other perceptual whatnot.
