Neuronic Territory

Do subconscious and conscious processes utilize different neurons?

By “subconscious”, I basically mean processes in the brain, which the individual is not aware of (more detail on the function, here; Subconscious Subjection). By “conscious”, I basically mean processes involving data which the person is aware of (more detail on the function, here; Conscious Comprehension). 

It seems as though both processes influence the other, but whether they use the same neurons and pathways for saving and accessing memories, would be another question. What should be relevant for determining if they use the same neural data, would be whether or not 1 process, accesses the same data of the other. In a post from last month; Conscious Subconscious Memory Access, I explored why it seems difficult for someone to consciously access memory data which was saved subconsciously. Since a lot of data which is saved subconsciously, is less accurate than consciously saved data, because of a lack of focus on detail, the subconscious data seems to be saved utilizing mostly different neural combinations (to represent memories). But data which is saved consciously, using focus on detail and connections between factors, does seem to be easily accessible for the subconscious (as I tried to further explain in a later post from last month; Subconscious Conscious-Memory Access). 

This suggests that the process of subconsciousness does use the same neurological areas as consciousness. The key seems to be that the neural combo data must be saved consciously, for either process to use it. This could make sense, since memory data which is saved subconsciously is less accurate in detail of sensory perception measurement. It's almost like, when the subconscious records something, it is a blurry picture, with fewer pixels of detail. But when someone consciously saves something in memory, it’s an HD picture, with a lot more pixels and detail. The more detailed memories, saved consciously, would make sense for effectiveness, as a high priority for ease of neural access (whether being accessed consciously or subconsciously). 

Perhaps blurry subconscious data is less likely to be accessed, because it will have a less accurate match. Data which is saved consciously, has more accurate sensory measurements, and distinguishes separate factors more accurately. Since factors are more distinguished, being represented in memory by a neurological combination, those factors are more likely to be recognized accurately. Once they are more effectively recognized by sensory perception, the more accurate neural combo is more likely to be accessed repeatedly. The more times a neural combo is accessed, the easier it is to be accessed in the future. More accurate recognition of memory, could explain why consciously saved data is easier to access.

Consciously saved memory data seems to be more likely to be accessed than subconsciously saved data, but both processes seem to access the same consciously saved data, and Neuronic Territory.

Subconsciously Conscious

Can your subconscious be conditioned to be conscious? 

By definition, you cannot be conscious while subconscious, since subconscious specifically excludes being conscious. But, as I discovered in a post from last month; Mind Driver, it seems your subconscious can react 1stly, to steer the direction of conscious thought. Does this mean your subconscious can be conditioned to regularly continue to use the function of conscious thought, rather than a more basic subconscious reaction? 

It seems plausible to condition your subconscious to react in certain ways, as I further explained in a post from 2.5 yrs ago; Conscious Conditioning. But considering the difference in physical function during the process of subconscious, compared to conscious, it seems initially unclear whether you can be subconsciously conditioned to be conscious. Normal conditioning of the subconscious, causes a basic reaction to sensory stimulation, based on previous positive or negative reinforcement saved in memory (more detail in; Subconscious Subjection). 

So normally, the process for reaction of subconscious conditioning would be, sensory stimulation triggers an emotion, based on previous experiences. That emotion then causes the individual to react physically, and typically pursue or avoid the scenario. When reacting subconsciously, an emotion caused by previous positive or negative reinforcement, usually seems to drive a physical reaction. This is different than causing a further memory mechanism, in the mind, such as conscious awareness. 

But, of course sometimes humans do react with the further memory mechanism of conscious thought. Perhaps the question is whether this occurring, is affected by the subconscious, or whether the further memory mechanism occurs based only on physical infrastructure of the brain?

It seems obvious that infrastructure of the brain is required for conscious thought, assuming it occurs based on an explainable mechanism, but which factors cause that conscious mechanism to occur, should be relevant. It seems likely that amount of activation of neurons, would be a required factor to cause the conscious mechanism, since being more awake, seems to cause more conscious awareness and thought. If the amount of activity of neurons was the only factor which causes conscious thought in a person who already has the infrastructure, then it seems like a subconscious mechanism, could typically only increase neural activity, if it triggered a chemical (such as adrenaline), which then in turn triggered more neural activity. This likely does occur on occasion, but seems unlikely to be a method for conditioning your subconscious to trigger conscious thought, in common, repeated, circumstances. 

Other than your subconscious using positive or negative reinforcement of past experiences, it also utilizes repetition of common neural pathways. The more a pathway is used, the easier it is for your subconscious to access. Perhaps this could be an element involved in the potential to condition your subconscious to trigger conscious thought. If you repeatedly use neural pathways which lead to neural combinations required to be conscious of a factor, then it seems plausible that your subconscious would be more likely to access that same combination. Even without increasing neural activity (such as being more awake), it might be possible to subconsciously (with less neural activity) trigger access of conscious neural combos. 

Even in a state of subconsciousness (eg, drunk, dreaming, tired) it seems you can be conditioned by repetition, to have conscious thoughts. By definition, once you access the conscious combo, you would no longer be subconscious, but after the conscious thought subsides, and you go back to being subconscious (in your state of mind), you should be more likely to again access conscious thoughts (even if fewer than when more awake), if you are conditioned so. 

It would still be your subconscious which triggered the conscious thought, because of the repetition of previous conscious thought, rather than usual increase of neural activity being the cause. This seems it would only be effective for factors which you’ve been conscious of repeatedly in the past. Perhaps saving a repeated neural combo connection in memory, to the concept itself, of being conscious, could be another question, in whether subconsciously triggering that concept, could allow you to then further apply being conscious; to new factors?