TED2017
Anil Seth: Your brain hallucinates your conscious reality
亞尼·賽斯: 你的大腦如何幻想出你意識到的現實
Filmed:
Readability: 4.1
9,317,527 views
此時此刻，你腦袋中的數十億個神經元正聯手產生意識體驗──不是任意的意識，而是一個你置身周遭世界中的意識經驗。這過程是如何發生的？神經學家亞尼·賽斯認為，我們時時刻刻處在幻覺裡；而被大家共同認可和接受的幻覺成了「現實」。讓我們一起聆聽賽斯這讓人欣然迷失的演說，你可能會因而開始疑惑自身的存在。
Anil Seth - Cognitive neuroscientist
How can the "inner universe" of consciousness be explained in terms of mere biology and physics? Anil Seth explores the brain basis of consciousness and self. Full bio
How can the "inner universe" of consciousness be explained in terms of mere biology and physics? Anil Seth explores the brain basis of consciousness and self. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Just over a year ago,
0
920
1240
一年多前，
00:14
for the third time in my life,
I ceased to exist.
I ceased to exist.
1
2840
2376
我於人生中第三次不復存在。
00:17
I was having a small operation,
and my brain was filling with anesthetic.
and my brain was filling with anesthetic.
2
5240
4280
當時我正接受一個小手術，
而我的腦中充滿了麻醉藥劑。
而我的腦中充滿了麻醉藥劑。
00:22
I remember a sense
of detachment and falling apart
of detachment and falling apart
3
10520
3336
我還記得當時感覺抽離、崩潰、
00:25
and a coldness.
4
13880
1200
和冰冷。
00:27
And then I was back,
drowsy and disoriented,
drowsy and disoriented,
5
15880
2416
隨後我恢復意識，昏沉又迷惘，
00:30
but definitely there.
6
18320
1440
但我絕對在那裡。
00:32
Now, when you wake from a deep sleep,
7
20280
1816
當你從深睡中醒來，
00:34
you might feel confused about the time
or anxious about oversleeping,
or anxious about oversleeping,
8
22120
3256
你可能對時間感到困惑，
或是對睡過頭感到焦慮，
或是對睡過頭感到焦慮，
00:37
but there's always a basic sense
of time having passed,
of time having passed,
9
25400
2736
但基本上都會意識到時間流逝、
00:40
of a continuity between then and now.
10
28160
2216
以及彼時與此時之間的連續性。
00:42
Coming round from
anesthesia is very different.
anesthesia is very different.
11
30400
2216
麻醉過後恢復意識則截然不同。
00:44
I could have been under
for five minutes, five hours,
for five minutes, five hours,
12
32640
2496
也許我失去意識五分鐘、五小時、
00:47
five years or even 50 years.
13
35160
1416
五年、甚至五十年。
00:48
I simply wasn't there.
14
36600
1456
我就是不在那裡，
00:50
It was total oblivion.
15
38080
1240
完全處於無意識的狀態。
00:52
Anesthesia --
it's a modern kind of magic.
it's a modern kind of magic.
16
40240
2056
麻醉是種現代的魔法。
00:54
It turns people into objects,
17
42320
3176
它把人變成物品，
00:57
and then, we hope, back again into people.
18
45520
2000
接著，但願由物品再變回人。
00:59
And in this process
19
47544
1232
這個過程中
01:00
is one of the greatest remaining
mysteries in science and philosophy.
mysteries in science and philosophy.
20
48800
3240
有著科學與哲學中
未解的最大謎題之一。
未解的最大謎題之一。
01:04
How does consciousness happen?
21
52400
1616
意識是如何發生的?
01:06
Somehow, within each of our brains,
22
54040
2216
在我們每個人的腦中
01:08
the combined activity
of many billions of neurons,
of many billions of neurons,
23
56280
2896
有數十億個神經元聯手動作，
01:11
each one a tiny biological machine,
24
59200
3016
而每個神經元都是個小小生物機器，
01:14
is generating a conscious experience.
25
62240
1816
它們聯合產出意識經驗。
01:16
And not just any conscious experience --
26
64080
1936
不僅僅是任何意識經驗，
01:18
your conscious experience
right here and right now.
right here and right now.
27
66040
2381
而是你在此時此地的意識經驗。
01:20
How does this happen?
28
68445
1200
這是如何發生的？
01:22
Answering this question is so important
29
70560
2056
回答這個問題極為重要，
01:24
because consciousness
for each of us is all there is.
for each of us is all there is.
30
72640
2856
因為意識是我們每個人的一切，
01:27
Without it there's no world,
31
75520
2000
沒有意識，就沒有世界，
01:30
there's no self,
32
78400
1376
沒有自我，
01:31
there's nothing at all.
33
79800
1536
什麼都沒有。
01:33
And when we suffer, we suffer consciously
34
81360
1953
當我們受苦時，是有意識地受苦，
01:35
whether it's through
mental illness or pain.
mental illness or pain.
35
83337
2080
不管原因是心理疾病或是疼痛。
01:38
And if we can experience
joy and suffering,
joy and suffering,
36
86400
2936
且如果我們能體驗喜悅及苦難，
01:41
what about other animals?
37
89360
1440
其他的動物呢？
01:43
Might they be conscious, too?
38
91320
1416
牠們也有意識嗎？
01:44
Do they also have a sense of self?
39
92760
1656
也能感受到自我嗎？
01:46
And as computers get faster and smarter,
40
94440
3136
隨著電腦越來越快、越聰明，
01:49
maybe there will come a point,
maybe not too far away,
maybe not too far away,
41
97600
2576
也許將來某個時候，也許不用太久，
01:52
when my iPhone develops
a sense of its own existence.
a sense of its own existence.
42
100200
2736
我的 iPhone 就會發展出
對自身存在的感知。
對自身存在的感知。
01:54
I actually think the prospects
for a conscious AI are pretty remote.
for a conscious AI are pretty remote.
43
102960
4480
其實我認為，讓人工智慧
具有意識的願景很遙遠。
具有意識的願景很遙遠。
01:59
And I think this because
my research is telling me
my research is telling me
44
107960
2376
因為我的研究告訴我，
02:02
that consciousness has less to do
with pure intelligence
with pure intelligence
45
110360
2656
意識與單純智慧不太相關，
02:05
and more to do with our nature
as living and breathing organisms.
as living and breathing organisms.
46
113040
4576
而與我們是活著、會呼吸的有機體
這個天性比較有關。
這個天性比較有關。
02:09
Consciousness and intelligence
are very different things.
are very different things.
47
117640
2696
意識與智慧是非常不同的。
02:12
You don't have to be smart to suffer,
but you probably do have to be alive.
but you probably do have to be alive.
48
120360
3560
即使不聰明也會受苦，
但大概得要活著才會受苦。
但大概得要活著才會受苦。
02:17
In the story I'm going to tell you,
49
125200
1696
在我即將要告訴各位的故事中，
02:18
our conscious experiences
of the world around us,
of the world around us,
50
126920
2336
我們對於周遭世界、
及我們身在其中的意識經驗，
02:21
and of ourselves within it,
51
129280
1336
02:22
are kinds of controlled hallucinations
52
130639
2537
是種被控制的幻覺，
02:25
that happen with, through
and because of our living bodies.
and because of our living bodies.
53
133200
3840
因為我們活著及透過身體發生幻覺。
02:29
Now, you might have heard
that we know nothing
that we know nothing
54
137840
3336
或許你聽過，
我們對於頭腦和身體
如何形成意識一無所知。
如何形成意識一無所知。
02:33
about how the brain and body
give rise to consciousness.
give rise to consciousness.
55
141200
2736
02:35
Some people even say it's beyond
the reach of science altogether.
the reach of science altogether.
56
143960
3136
甚至有些人說
這已超出科學能及的範圍。
這已超出科學能及的範圍。
02:39
But in fact,
57
147120
1216
但事實上，
02:40
the last 25 years have seen an explosion
of scientific work in this area.
of scientific work in this area.
58
148360
4136
過去 25 年中這領域
出現了大量的科學研究。
出現了大量的科學研究。
02:44
If you come to my lab
at the University of Sussex,
at the University of Sussex,
59
152520
2776
如果你來到我位於
薩塞克斯大學的實驗室，
薩塞克斯大學的實驗室，
02:47
you'll find scientists
from all different disciplines
from all different disciplines
60
155320
3160
會看到來自各學門的科學家，
02:51
and sometimes even philosophers.
61
159200
1920
甚至有時會有哲學家。
02:53
All of us together trying to understand
how consciousness happens
how consciousness happens
62
161800
3976
我們所有人聯手
試圖了解意識是如何發生的，
試圖了解意識是如何發生的，
02:57
and what happens when it goes wrong.
63
165800
1720
以及如果出了錯會發生什麼事。
02:59
And the strategy is very simple.
64
167880
2136
策略十分簡單。
03:02
I'd like you to think about consciousness
65
170040
1976
我想請各位
用我們思考人生的方式來思考意識。
03:04
in the way that we've
come to think about life.
come to think about life.
66
172040
2216
03:06
At one time, people thought
the property of being alive
the property of being alive
67
174280
2616
人們曾以為
無法用物理和化學
來解釋活著的特性，
來解釋活著的特性，
03:08
could not be explained
by physics and chemistry --
by physics and chemistry --
68
176920
2616
03:11
that life had to be
more than just mechanism.
more than just mechanism.
69
179560
2160
認為生命必然不只是機制。
03:14
But people no longer think that.
70
182480
1896
但現在人們不再那麼想了。
03:16
As biologists got on with the job
71
184400
1616
生物學家
繼續用物理和化學來解釋
生命系統的特性──
生命系統的特性──
03:18
of explaining the properties
of living systems
of living systems
72
186040
2576
03:20
in terms of physics and chemistry --
73
188640
1816
03:22
things like metabolism,
reproduction, homeostasis --
reproduction, homeostasis --
74
190480
3056
像是心陳代謝、繁殖、體內平衡──
03:25
the basic mystery of what life is
started to fade away,
started to fade away,
75
193560
3816
關於生命的基本謎題已漸漸消逝，
03:29
and people didn't propose
any more magical solutions,
any more magical solutions,
76
197400
3056
人們不再提出魔術般的解答，
03:32
like a force of life or an élan vital.
77
200480
2000
像是生命之力或生命衝力。
03:35
So as with life, so with consciousness.
78
203080
2656
所以，意識就跟生命的狀況很像。
03:37
Once we start explaining its properties
79
205760
2296
一旦我們開始解釋意識的特性，
03:40
in terms of things happening
inside brains and bodies,
inside brains and bodies,
80
208080
3696
用的是頭腦和身體中發生的狀況，
03:43
the apparently insoluble mystery
of what consciousness is
of what consciousness is
81
211800
3416
「意識到底是什麼」
這個明顯的無解謎題
這個明顯的無解謎題
03:47
should start to fade away.
82
215240
1736
應該就會漸漸消逝了。
03:49
At least that's the plan.
83
217000
1720
至少計畫是這樣的。
03:51
So let's get started.
84
219280
1256
所以，我們開始吧。
03:52
What are the properties of consciousness?
85
220560
1976
意識的特性是什麼？
03:54
What should a science
of consciousness try to explain?
of consciousness try to explain?
86
222560
2524
意識科學應該試圖解釋什麼？
03:57
Well, for today I'd just like to think
of consciousness in two different ways.
of consciousness in two different ways.
87
225960
3696
今天我想要用兩種方式來思考意識，
04:01
There are experiences
of the world around us,
of the world around us,
88
229680
2376
有關我們周遭世界的經驗，
04:04
full of sights, sounds and smells,
89
232080
2216
充滿了景象、聲音、味道，
04:06
there's multisensory, panoramic,
3D, fully immersive inner movie.
3D, fully immersive inner movie.
90
234320
3920
像是多種感官、全景式、
3D、完全身歷其境的內在電影。
04:11
And then there's conscious self.
91
239000
1560
另外還有自我意識。
04:13
The specific experience
of being you or being me.
of being you or being me.
92
241080
2456
身為你或是身為我的特定經驗。
04:15
The lead character in this inner movie,
93
243560
2016
也就是這部內在電影的主角，
04:17
and probably the aspect of consciousness
we all cling to most tightly.
we all cling to most tightly.
94
245600
3360
可能也是各個意識面向中
我們最緊抓不放的一面。
我們最緊抓不放的一面。
04:21
Let's start with experiences
of the world around us,
of the world around us,
95
249840
2456
先從對我們周遭世界的經驗開始，
04:24
and with the important idea
of the brain as a prediction engine.
of the brain as a prediction engine.
96
252320
3735
先來談談一個重要想法：
頭腦是預測引擎。
頭腦是預測引擎。
04:28
Imagine being a brain.
97
256079
1760
想像你是個頭腦。
04:30
You're locked inside a bony skull,
98
258600
1655
你被關在頭骨中，
04:32
trying to figure
what's out there in the world.
what's out there in the world.
99
260279
2217
試圖知道外面世界有什麼。
04:34
There's no lights inside the skull.
There's no sound either.
There's no sound either.
100
262520
3016
頭骨內沒有光，也沒有聲音。
04:37
All you've got to go on
is streams of electrical impulses
is streams of electrical impulses
101
265560
2776
你只有電脈衝，
04:40
which are only indirectly related
to things in the world,
to things in the world,
102
268360
3176
它們和世界中的事物只間接相關，
04:43
whatever they may be.
103
271560
1200
不論是什麼。
04:45
So perception --
figuring out what's there --
figuring out what's there --
104
273520
2136
所以，感知──理解外面有什麼──
04:47
has to be a process of informed guesswork
105
275680
2856
一定是種根據資訊的猜測過程，
04:50
in which the brain combines
these sensory signals
these sensory signals
106
278560
3136
過程中頭腦結合這些感官訊號，
04:53
with its prior expectations or beliefs
about the way the world is
about the way the world is
107
281720
4056
連同先前對於世界的期待或信念，
04:57
to form its best guess
of what caused those signals.
of what caused those signals.
108
285800
3136
來猜測最佳的訊號成因。
05:00
The brain doesn't hear sound or see light.
109
288960
2696
頭腦聽不見聲音也看不見光線。
05:03
What we perceive is its best guess
of what's out there in the world.
of what's out there in the world.
110
291680
4360
我們所感知到的
是頭腦對於外在世界的最佳猜測。
05:09
Let me give you a couple
of examples of all this.
of examples of all this.
111
297040
2920
讓我為各位舉幾個例子。
05:12
You might have seen this illusion before,
112
300400
1976
你們以前可能看過這個幻覺，
05:14
but I'd like you to think
about it in a new way.
about it in a new way.
113
302400
2256
但我想請你們以新的方式思考。
05:16
If you look at those two patches, A and B,
114
304680
2056
看著這兩塊方格，A 與 B，
05:18
they should look to you to be
very different shades of gray, right?
very different shades of gray, right?
115
306760
3320
看起來灰色的深淺應該不同，對嗎？
05:23
But they are in fact
exactly the same shade.
exactly the same shade.
116
311040
2976
但事實上，它們的灰階相同。
05:26
And I can illustrate this.
117
314040
1336
我可以用圖解。
05:27
If I put up a second version
of the image here
of the image here
118
315400
2216
若我放上這張圖的第二個版本，
05:29
and join the two patches
with a gray-colored bar,
with a gray-colored bar,
119
317640
3016
用灰色直條連結兩塊方格，
05:32
you can see there's no difference.
120
320680
1656
就能看出沒有差別。
05:34
It's exactly the same shade of gray.
121
322360
1776
它們是同樣的灰色。
05:36
And if you still don't believe me,
122
324160
1656
如果你們仍不相信我，
05:37
I'll bring the bar across
and join them up.
and join them up.
123
325840
2240
我把直條移過來連接它們。
05:40
It's a single colored block of gray,
there's no difference at all.
there's no difference at all.
124
328680
3360
是單一的灰色，完全沒有差別。
05:44
This isn't any kind of magic trick.
125
332760
1696
這不是魔術把戲。
05:46
It's the same shade of gray,
126
334480
1416
是同樣深淺的灰色，
05:47
but take it away again,
and it looks different.
and it looks different.
127
335920
2200
但拿走直條，看起來又不同了。
05:51
So what's happening here
128
339240
1256
這裡發生的是頭腦用它先前
05:52
is that the brain
is using its prior expectations
is using its prior expectations
129
340520
2816
深植在視覺中樞的強烈信念，
05:55
built deeply into the circuits
of the visual cortex
of the visual cortex
130
343360
3096
05:58
that a cast shadow dims
the appearance of a surface,
the appearance of a surface,
131
346480
2696
認為陰影會使表面亮度黯淡下來，
06:01
so that we see B as lighter
than it really is.
than it really is.
132
349200
3640
所以我們以為 B 的灰色
比實際上的淺。
比實際上的淺。
06:05
Here's one more example,
133
353920
1256
還有一個例子
06:07
which shows just how quickly
the brain can use new predictions
the brain can use new predictions
134
355200
3176
能展示頭腦多麼快速地用新的預測
06:10
to change what we consciously experience.
135
358400
2296
來改變我們的意識經驗。
06:12
Have a listen to this.
136
360720
1200
聽聽這個。
06:15
(Distorted voice)
137
363440
3040
（失真的聲音）
06:19
Sounded strange, right?
138
367320
1576
聽起來很怪，對吧？
06:20
Have a listen again
and see if you can get anything.
and see if you can get anything.
139
368920
2429
再聽一次，看你們能否聽出什麼。
06:23
(Distorted voice)
140
371760
2960
（失真的聲音）
06:27
Still strange.
141
375880
1256
仍然很怪。
06:29
Now listen to this.
142
377160
1200
現在聽聽這個。
06:30
(Recording) Anil Seth: I think Brexit
is a really terrible idea.
is a really terrible idea.
143
378920
3056
（錄音）亞尼賽斯：我認為
英國脫歐是個很糟的點子。
英國脫歐是個很糟的點子。
06:34
(Laughter)
144
382000
1336
（笑聲）
06:35
Which I do.
145
383360
1216
我的確這樣認為。
06:36
So you heard some words there, right?
146
384600
1816
你們聽見了一些字吧？
06:38
Now listen to the first sound again.
I'm just going to replay it.
I'm just going to replay it.
147
386440
3096
現在重聽第一段聲音。重播。
06:41
(Distorted voice)
148
389560
3056
（失真的聲音）
06:44
Yeah? So you can now hear words there.
149
392640
2496
如何？現在你們可以聽出一些字了。
06:47
Once more for luck.
150
395160
1200
再試一次運氣。
06:49
(Distorted voice)
151
397040
3000
（失真的聲音）
06:53
OK, so what's going on here?
152
401000
2256
好，發生了什麼事？
06:55
The remarkable thing is the sensory
information coming into the brain
information coming into the brain
153
403280
3576
不可思議的
是進入頭腦的感官資訊一點也沒變，
06:58
hasn't changed at all.
154
406880
1200
07:00
All that's changed
is your brain's best guess
is your brain's best guess
155
408680
2536
改變的只是你的頭腦
對於感受到的資訊所做出的最佳推測，
07:03
of the causes of that sensory information.
156
411240
2056
07:05
And that changes
what you consciously hear.
what you consciously hear.
157
413320
2360
也就改變了你意識下聽到了什麼。
07:08
All this puts the brain
basis of perception
basis of perception
158
416560
3136
這一切讓頭腦的感知基礎
07:11
in a bit of a different light.
159
419720
1456
變得有點不同。
07:13
Instead of perception depending largely
on signals coming into the brain
on signals coming into the brain
160
421200
4016
感知並非大部分依賴於
外在世界進入頭腦的訊號，
07:17
from the outside world,
161
425240
1536
07:18
it depends as much, if not more,
162
426800
2496
而是同等、或是更多依賴於
07:21
on perceptual predictions
flowing in the opposite direction.
flowing in the opposite direction.
163
429320
3920
方向完全相反的感知預測。
07:26
We don't just passively
perceive the world,
perceive the world,
164
434160
2056
我們不只被動地感知這個世界，
07:28
we actively generate it.
165
436240
1696
也主動地使這個世界成像。
07:29
The world we experience
comes as much, if not more,
comes as much, if not more,
166
437960
2616
我們所經驗的世界
由內而外和由外而內等量，
07:32
from the inside out
167
440600
1336
或者更多來自由內而外。
07:33
as from the outside in.
168
441960
1320
07:35
Let me give you
one more example of perception
one more example of perception
169
443640
2176
讓我再舉個例子
說明感知是個主動建構的過程。
07:37
as this active, constructive process.
170
445840
2880
07:41
Here we've combined immersive
virtual reality with image processing
virtual reality with image processing
171
449400
5136
在這裡我們結合身歷其境的
虛擬實境和影像處理，
虛擬實境和影像處理，
07:46
to simulate the effects
of overly strong perceptual predictions
of overly strong perceptual predictions
172
454560
2976
來模擬過度強大的感知預測
對經驗會有什麼影響。
07:49
on experience.
173
457560
1336
07:50
In this panoramic video,
we've transformed the world --
we've transformed the world --
174
458920
2896
在這支全景影片中，
我們轉化這個世界──
我們轉化這個世界──
07:53
which is in this case Sussex campus --
175
461840
1896
這裡是薩塞克斯校園──
07:55
into a psychedelic playground.
176
463760
1560
為幻覺遊樂場。
07:57
We've processed the footage using
an algorithm based on Google's Deep Dream
an algorithm based on Google's Deep Dream
177
465760
3856
影片被用 Google 的
Deep Dream 演算法處理過，
Deep Dream 演算法處理過，
08:01
to simulate the effects
of overly strong perceptual predictions.
of overly strong perceptual predictions.
178
469640
4096
來模擬過度強大的感知預測。
08:05
In this case, to see dogs.
179
473760
1616
這例子是看狗。
08:07
And you can see
this is a very strange thing.
this is a very strange thing.
180
475400
2136
你們可以看見這有多奇怪。
08:09
When perceptual
predictions are too strong,
predictions are too strong,
181
477560
2096
當感知預測太強大時，
08:11
as they are here,
182
479680
1376
就像這裡這樣，
08:13
the result looks very much
like the kinds of hallucinations
like the kinds of hallucinations
183
481080
2896
結果看起來很像是幻覺，
像是人們在意識狀態改變
08:16
people might report in altered states,
184
484000
2016
08:18
or perhaps even in psychosis.
185
486040
2080
或甚至精神錯亂時看到的幻覺。
08:21
Now, think about this for a minute.
186
489120
1667
花點時間思考這一點。
08:23
If hallucination is a kind
of uncontrolled perception,
of uncontrolled perception,
187
491160
5096
如果幻覺是種無法控制的感知，
08:28
then perception right here and right now
is also a kind of hallucination,
is also a kind of hallucination,
188
496280
4456
那麼此時此地的感知也是某種幻覺，
08:32
but a controlled hallucination
189
500760
2016
只是它是被控制的幻覺，
08:34
in which the brain's predictions
are being reigned in
are being reigned in
190
502800
2896
頭腦的預測
被感受自外在世界的資訊所統御。
08:37
by sensory information from the world.
191
505720
1880
08:40
In fact, we're all
hallucinating all the time,
hallucinating all the time,
192
508200
2976
事實上，我們隨時都在產生幻覺，
08:43
including right now.
193
511200
1376
包括現在。
08:44
It's just that when we agree
about our hallucinations,
about our hallucinations,
194
512600
2816
只是當我們對幻覺的看法一致時
08:47
we call that reality.
195
515440
1200
就稱之為現實。
08:49
(Laughter)
196
517280
3936
（笑聲）
08:53
Now I'm going to tell you
that your experience of being a self,
that your experience of being a self,
197
521240
3336
現在我要告訴各位，
你們身為自我的經驗，
你們身為自我的經驗，
08:56
the specific experience of being you,
198
524600
1816
身為「你」的特定經驗，
08:58
is also a controlled hallucination
generated by the brain.
generated by the brain.
199
526440
3496
也是頭腦所產生的一種控制幻覺。
09:01
This seems a very strange idea, right?
200
529960
2016
這似乎是個很奇怪的想法，是吧？
09:04
Yes, visual illusions
might deceive my eyes,
might deceive my eyes,
201
532000
2136
的確，視覺假象
或許欺騙了我們的眼睛，
或許欺騙了我們的眼睛，
09:06
but how could I be deceived
about what it means to be me?
about what it means to be me?
202
534160
3520
但我怎可能會被自我的意義騙了呢？
09:10
For most of us,
203
538200
1216
對大多數人而言，
09:11
the experience of being a person
204
539440
1576
身為一個人的經驗
09:13
is so familiar, so unified
and so continuous
and so continuous
205
541040
2096
是很熟悉、很一致、很連續的，
09:15
that it's difficult
not to take it for granted.
not to take it for granted.
206
543160
2216
所以很難不把它視為理所當然。
09:17
But we shouldn't take it for granted.
207
545400
1816
但我們不該視它為理所當然。
09:19
There are in fact many different ways
we experience being a self.
we experience being a self.
208
547240
3216
事實上，有許多方式可以
讓我們體驗身為自己。
讓我們體驗身為自己。
09:22
There's the experience of having a body
209
550480
2096
一種是擁有身體和是個身體的體驗；
09:24
and of being a body.
210
552600
1456
09:26
There are experiences
of perceiving the world
of perceiving the world
211
554080
2136
還有從第一人稱的角度
09:28
from a first person point of view.
212
556240
1640
來感知世界的體驗；
09:30
There are experiences
of intending to do things
of intending to do things
213
558240
2216
有打定主意要做某事，
09:32
and of being the cause of things
that happen in the world.
that happen in the world.
214
560480
2720
要成為世上事物肇因的體驗；
09:35
And there are experiences
215
563640
1256
有身為連續且獨特個體的體驗，
09:36
of being a continuous
and distinctive person over time,
and distinctive person over time,
216
564920
3896
隨著時間建立
豐富的記憶與社會互動。
豐富的記憶與社會互動。
09:40
built from a rich set
of memories and social interactions.
of memories and social interactions.
217
568840
2840
09:44
Many experiments show,
218
572200
1296
許多經驗顯示，
09:45
and psychiatrists
and neurologists know very well,
and neurologists know very well,
219
573520
2336
且精神病學家與
神經病學家都很清楚，
神經病學家都很清楚，
09:47
that these different ways
in which we experience being a self
in which we experience being a self
220
575880
2896
我們體驗身為自己的各種不同方式
09:50
can all come apart.
221
578800
1696
都有可能會崩壞。
09:52
What this means is
the basic background experience
the basic background experience
222
580520
2896
這意味著，「統合的自我」
這種基本背景經驗，
這種基本背景經驗，
09:55
of being a unified self is a rather
fragile construction of the brain.
fragile construction of the brain.
223
583440
4576
是由頭腦建立起的脆弱產物。
10:00
Another experience,
which just like all others,
which just like all others,
224
588040
2656
另一個經驗，
就和所有其他經驗一樣，
就和所有其他經驗一樣，
10:02
requires explanation.
225
590720
1200
需要解釋。
10:04
So let's return to the bodily self.
226
592720
1776
讓我們先回到身體的自我。
10:06
How does the brain generate
the experience of being a body
the experience of being a body
227
594520
2736
頭腦如何產生
是個身體以及擁有身體的經驗？
10:09
and of having a body?
228
597280
1256
10:10
Well, just the same principles apply.
229
598560
1856
適用同樣的原則。
10:12
The brain makes its best guess
230
600440
1456
頭腦如何做出最佳推測，
10:13
about what is and what is not
part of its body.
part of its body.
231
601920
2200
哪些是身體的一部份、而哪些不是。
10:16
And there's a beautiful experiment
in neuroscience to illustrate this.
in neuroscience to illustrate this.
232
604880
3736
神經科學中有個很棒的實驗
可以用來說明這一點。
可以用來說明這一點。
10:20
And unlike most neuroscience experiments,
233
608640
1976
和大部份神經科學實驗不同，
10:22
this is one you can do at home.
234
610640
1496
這個實驗你可以自己在家做。
10:24
All you need is one of these.
235
612160
1896
你只需要這個，
10:26
(Laughter)
236
614080
1256
（笑聲）
10:27
And a couple of paintbrushes.
237
615360
1440
和幾支畫筆。
10:30
In the rubber hand illusion,
238
618880
1376
在橡膠手幻覺裡，
10:32
a person's real hand is hidden from view,
239
620280
1976
這人看不見被遮住的一隻真手，
10:34
and that fake rubber hand
is placed in front of them.
is placed in front of them.
240
622280
2616
橡膠假手被置於面前，
10:36
Then both hands are simultaneously
stroked with a paintbrush
stroked with a paintbrush
241
624920
3256
接下來兩隻手同時被畫筆刷摩挲，
10:40
while the person stares at the fake hand.
242
628200
2680
當時這人凝視著假手。
10:43
Now, for most people, after a while,
243
631320
1976
大多數人在短時間後
10:45
this leads to the very uncanny sensation
244
633320
2096
會產生一種很怪異的感受，
10:47
that the fake hand
is in fact part of their body.
is in fact part of their body.
245
635440
2600
會覺得假手其實
是他們身體的一部份。
是他們身體的一部份。
10:51
And the idea is that the congruence
between seeing touch and feeling touch
between seeing touch and feeling touch
246
639640
4176
原理是，你同時看見與感覺
10:55
on an object that looks like hand
and is roughly where a hand should be,
and is roughly where a hand should be,
247
643840
4376
那個看起來像手、又位於
手該擺放位置的東西被觸摸，
手該擺放位置的東西被觸摸，
11:00
is enough evidence for the brain
to make its best guess
to make its best guess
248
648240
2776
這種一致性足以
讓頭腦做出最佳猜測，
讓頭腦做出最佳猜測，
11:03
that the fake hand
is in fact part of the body.
is in fact part of the body.
249
651040
3216
認為假手其實是身體的一部份。
11:06
(Laughter)
250
654280
2600
（笑聲）
11:15
So you can measure
all kinds of clever things.
all kinds of clever things.
251
663240
2256
你可以測量各種聰明的東西。
11:17
You can measure skin conductance
and startle responses,
and startle responses,
252
665520
3296
你可以測量膚電傳導、驚嚇反應，
11:20
but there's no need.
253
668840
1256
但沒必要。
11:22
It's clear the guy in blue
has assimilated the fake hand.
has assimilated the fake hand.
254
670120
2936
很清楚可見，藍衣男子
已經把假手給同化了。
已經把假手給同化了。
11:25
This means that even experiences
of what our body is
of what our body is
255
673080
3416
這意味著，即使是對於
我們自身身體的經驗，
我們自身身體的經驗，
11:28
is a kind of best guessing --
256
676520
1536
也僅是一種最佳猜測，
11:30
a kind of controlled
hallucination by the brain.
hallucination by the brain.
257
678080
2480
一種頭腦控制的幻覺。
11:33
There's one more thing.
258
681480
1200
還有一件事。
11:36
We don't just experience our bodies
as objects in the world from the outside,
as objects in the world from the outside,
259
684120
3656
我們不只從外在體驗
身體是世界裡的一樣物品，
身體是世界裡的一樣物品，
11:39
we also experience them from within.
260
687800
1736
也從內在去體驗它。
11:41
We all experience the sense
of being a body from the inside.
of being a body from the inside.
261
689560
4240
我們都曾由內體驗身體的感覺。
11:47
And sensory signals
coming from the inside of the body
coming from the inside of the body
262
695000
2576
來自身體內部的感官訊號
11:49
are continually telling the brain
about the state of the internal organs,
about the state of the internal organs,
263
697600
4056
持續告訴頭腦內部器官的狀態如何、
11:53
how the heart is doing,
what the blood pressure is like,
what the blood pressure is like,
264
701680
2656
心臟目前如何、血壓是怎樣的、
11:56
lots of things.
265
704360
1216
還有很多別的。
11:57
This kind of perception,
which we call interoception,
which we call interoception,
266
705600
2480
這種感知，我們稱為「內感受」，
12:00
is rather overlooked.
267
708840
1256
往往被忽視，
12:02
But it's critically important
268
710120
1416
但非常重要，
12:03
because perception and regulation
of the internal state of the body --
of the internal state of the body --
269
711560
3336
因為身體內部狀態的感知和調節
12:06
well, that's what keeps us alive.
270
714920
1600
是我們能活著的原因。
12:09
Here's another version
of the rubber hand illusion.
of the rubber hand illusion.
271
717400
2416
這是橡膠手錯覺的另一個版本。
12:11
This is from our lab at Sussex.
272
719840
1496
在我們薩塞克斯的實驗室。
12:13
And here, people see
a virtual reality version of their hand,
a virtual reality version of their hand,
273
721360
3416
在這裡，人們看見
自己虛擬實境版本的手，
自己虛擬實境版本的手，
12:16
which flashes red and back
274
724800
1376
閃著紅色、黑色，
12:18
either in time or out of time
with their heartbeat.
with their heartbeat.
275
726200
3256
與心跳同拍或不同拍。
12:21
And when it's flashing
in time with their heartbeat,
in time with their heartbeat,
276
729480
2456
當閃現與心跳同拍時，
12:23
people have a stronger sense
that it's in fact part of their body.
that it's in fact part of their body.
277
731960
3120
人們誤認虛擬手
是身體一部份的感覺更強烈。
是身體一部份的感覺更強烈。
12:27
So experiences of having a body
are deeply grounded
are deeply grounded
278
735720
3496
所以，擁有身體的體驗
深植在我們身體內在的感知。
12:31
in perceiving our bodies from within.
279
739240
2400
12:35
There's one last thing
I want to draw your attention to,
I want to draw your attention to,
280
743680
2656
我要各位注意的最後一件事：
12:38
which is that experiences of the body
from the inside are very different
from the inside are very different
281
746360
3656
從內在體驗身體
12:42
from experiences of the world around us.
282
750040
2056
和從周遭世界體驗大不相同。
12:44
When I look around me,
the world seems full of objects --
the world seems full of objects --
283
752120
2696
當我看周遭，世界似乎滿是物品，
12:46
tables, chairs, rubber hands,
284
754840
2176
有桌子、椅子、橡膠手、
12:49
people, you lot --
285
757040
1736
人們、你們所有人；
12:50
even my own body in the world,
286
758800
1976
即使是我的身體，
12:52
I can perceive it
as an object from the outside.
as an object from the outside.
287
760800
2256
我也能從外在世界感受到它。
12:55
But my experiences
of the body from within,
of the body from within,
288
763080
2056
但我從內在對於身體的經驗
12:57
they're not like that at all.
289
765160
1416
完全不是那樣的。
12:58
I don't perceive my kidneys here,
290
766600
2056
我感受不到腎臟在這裡、
13:00
my liver here,
291
768680
1576
肝在這裡、
13:02
my spleen ...
292
770280
1256
脾臟……
13:03
I don't know where my spleen is,
293
771560
1896
我不知道我的脾臟在哪，
13:05
but it's somewhere.
294
773480
1376
但在某處。
13:06
I don't perceive my insides as objects.
295
774880
1896
我並不把內在器官感知為物品。
13:08
In fact, I don't experience them
much at all unless they go wrong.
much at all unless they go wrong.
296
776800
3640
事實上，我幾乎感受不到它們，
除非它們出了問題。
除非它們出了問題。
13:13
And this is important, I think.
297
781400
1480
我認為這點很重要。
13:15
Perception of the internal
state of the body
state of the body
298
783600
2096
對身體內在狀態的感知
13:17
isn't about figuring out what's there,
299
785720
1856
並不在於知道體內有什麼，
13:19
it's about control and regulation --
300
787600
2136
而在於控制與調節，
13:21
keeping the physiological variables
within the tight bounds
within the tight bounds
301
789760
3896
讓內在生理變數
維持在與生存相符合的
嚴密界限範圍內。
嚴密界限範圍內。
13:25
that are compatible with survival.
302
793680
1840
13:28
When the brain uses predictions
to figure out what's there,
to figure out what's there,
303
796640
2856
當頭腦用預測來揣摩那兒有什麼時，
13:31
we perceive objects
as the causes of sensations.
as the causes of sensations.
304
799520
3096
我們視物品的感知為知覺的成因。
13:34
When the brain uses predictions
to control and regulate things,
to control and regulate things,
305
802640
3616
當頭腦用預測來控制和調節事物時，
13:38
we experience how well
or how badly that control is going.
or how badly that control is going.
306
806280
3160
我們則是經驗到控制得多好或多糟。
13:41
So our most basic experiences
of being a self,
of being a self,
307
809880
2816
因此我們身為自己、
或身為有形有機體的最基本經驗，
13:44
of being an embodied organism,
308
812720
2056
13:46
are deeply grounded in the biological
mechanisms that keep us alive.
mechanisms that keep us alive.
309
814800
3960
深植於讓我們存活的生物機制上。
13:52
And when we follow this idea
all the way through,
all the way through,
310
820760
2336
當我們順著這個想法一路想下去，
13:55
we can start to see
that all of our conscious experiences,
that all of our conscious experiences,
311
823120
3696
就會開始了解我們所有的意識經驗，
13:58
since they all depend on the same
mechanisms of predictive perception,
mechanisms of predictive perception,
312
826840
4736
因為都仰賴著同樣的預測感知機制，
14:03
all stem from this basic
drive to stay alive.
drive to stay alive.
313
831600
3416
全都源於同樣要活下去的本能需求。
14:07
We experience the world and ourselves
314
835040
2616
我們體驗外在世界和我們自身，
14:09
with, through and because of
our living bodies.
our living bodies.
315
837680
3080
靠的是我們活著的身體。
14:13
Let me bring things together step-by-step.
316
841560
2400
讓我一步步總匯。
14:16
What we consciously see depends
317
844560
1576
我們有意識看見到的
14:18
on the brain's best guess
of what's out there.
of what's out there.
318
846160
2296
是頭腦對於那裡有什麼的最佳猜測。
14:20
Our experienced world
comes from the inside out,
comes from the inside out,
319
848480
2376
我們也從內而外體驗世界，
14:22
not just the outside in.
320
850880
1240
不僅從外而內。
14:24
The rubber hand illusion shows
that this applies to our experiences
that this applies to our experiences
321
852600
3256
橡膠手的假象顯示出這個理論
可用來判斷什麼是、
以及什麼不是我們的身體。
以及什麼不是我們的身體。
14:27
of what is and what is not our body.
322
855880
1840
14:30
And these self-related predictions
depend critically on sensory signals
depend critically on sensory signals
323
858560
3576
這些與自我相關的預測
極為仰賴來自身體
內在深處的感官訊號。
內在深處的感官訊號。
14:34
coming from deep inside the body.
324
862160
1760
14:36
And finally,
325
864400
1216
最後，
14:37
experiences of being an embodied self
are more about control and regulation
are more about control and regulation
326
865640
4376
身為有形體的自我體驗，
和控制調節比較有關，
和控制調節比較有關，
14:42
than figuring out what's there.
327
870040
1680
而非去揣測那裡有什麼。
14:44
So our experiences of the world
around us and ourselves within it --
around us and ourselves within it --
328
872840
3216
所以我們對周遭世界、
以及我們身於其中的經驗，
以及我們身於其中的經驗，
14:48
well, they're kinds
of controlled hallucinations
of controlled hallucinations
329
876080
2256
都是某種控制的幻覺，
14:50
that have been shaped
over millions of years of evolution
over millions of years of evolution
330
878360
2896
是經過數百萬年的演化所形成的，
14:53
to keep us alive in worlds
full of danger and opportunity.
full of danger and opportunity.
331
881280
2760
為了讓我們存活在這
充滿危險與機會的世界上。
充滿危險與機會的世界上。
14:56
We predict ourselves into existence.
332
884480
2680
我們預測，故我們存在。
15:00
Now, I leave you with three
implications of all this.
implications of all this.
333
888520
2480
我要留給大家三項意涵。
15:03
First, just as we can
misperceive the world,
misperceive the world,
334
891640
2216
第一，如同我們可能錯誤感知世界，
15:05
we can misperceive ourselves
335
893880
1776
我們也可能錯誤感知自我，
15:07
when the mechanisms
of prediction go wrong.
of prediction go wrong.
336
895680
2136
如果預測機制出錯的話。
15:09
Understanding this opens many new
opportunities in psychiatry and neurology,
opportunities in psychiatry and neurology,
337
897840
4216
了解這一點
開啟了許多精神病學
和神經學的新契機，
和神經學的新契機，
15:14
because we can finally
get at the mechanisms
get at the mechanisms
338
902080
2616
因為我們終於能夠處理機制，
而不只是治療症狀，
15:16
rather than just treating the symptoms
339
904720
1896
處理憂鬱、精神分裂
這類疾病的機制。
這類疾病的機制。
15:18
in conditions like
depression and schizophrenia.
depression and schizophrenia.
340
906640
2520
15:21
Second:
341
909720
1216
第二：
15:22
what it means to be me
cannot be reduced to or uploaded to
cannot be reduced to or uploaded to
342
910960
3816
「身為我」的意義無法被縮減
或上傳成為運作機器人的軟體程式，
15:26
a software program running on a robot,
343
914800
2376
15:29
however smart or sophisticated.
344
917200
2216
不論它多聰明或多複雜。
15:31
We are biological, flesh-and-blood animals
345
919440
2616
我們是活生生、有血有肉的動物，
15:34
whose conscious experiences
are shaped at all levels
are shaped at all levels
346
922080
3256
我們的意識經驗
透由讓我們活著的
層層生物機制而成形。
層層生物機制而成形。
15:37
by the biological mechanisms
that keep us alive.
that keep us alive.
347
925360
2976
15:40
Just making computers smarter
is not going to make them sentient.
is not going to make them sentient.
348
928360
3640
單單讓電腦變得更聰明
無法使它們成為有情。
無法使它們成為有情。
15:45
Finally,
349
933000
1296
最後，
15:46
our own individual inner universe,
350
934320
1976
我們自身個別的內在宇宙，
15:48
our way of being conscious,
351
936320
1656
我們具有意識的方式，
15:50
is just one possible
way of being conscious.
way of being conscious.
352
938000
2760
只是眾多具有意識的可能方式之一。
15:53
And even human consciousness generally --
353
941840
1976
甚至人類意識一般來說
只佔廣大的可能意識空間中
非常小的一塊。
非常小的一塊。
15:55
it's just a tiny region in a vast space
of possible consciousnesses.
of possible consciousnesses.
354
943840
3976
15:59
Our individual self and worlds
are unique to each of us,
are unique to each of us,
355
947840
3656
我們個別的自我和世界
是我們各自獨有的，
是我們各自獨有的，
16:03
but they're all grounded
in biological mechanisms
in biological mechanisms
356
951520
3216
但它們都根源於
許多其他生物也具有的生物機制。
16:06
shared with many other living creatures.
357
954760
2600
16:09
Now, these are fundamental changes
358
957920
2960
這些是我們如何
了解自身的根本改變。
了解自身的根本改變。
16:13
in how we understand ourselves,
359
961760
2256
16:16
but I think they should be celebrated,
360
964040
1856
但我認為它們應該要被讚頌，
16:17
because as so often in science,
from Copernicus --
from Copernicus --
361
965920
2376
因為在科學上，
哥白尼說過
我們並非宇宙的中心，
16:20
we're not at the center of the universe --
362
968320
2000
16:22
to Darwin --
363
970344
1232
達爾文說過
16:23
we're related to all other creatures --
364
971600
2216
我們與所有其他生物都相關聯，
16:25
to the present day.
365
973840
1200
一直到現今。
16:28
With a greater sense of understanding
366
976320
2736
有了更多的了解，
16:31
comes a greater sense of wonder,
367
979080
2416
就會有更多的好奇心，
16:33
and a greater realization
368
981520
1856
以及更多的領悟，
16:35
that we are part of
and not apart from the rest of nature.
and not apart from the rest of nature.
369
983400
4600
領悟到我們是自然的一部份，
並非排除在自然之外。
並非排除在自然之外。
16:40
And ...
370
988920
1200
並且，
16:42
when the end of consciousness comes,
371
990720
2376
當意識的終點到來時，
16:45
there's nothing to be afraid of.
372
993120
2800
就什麼都不用害怕了。
16:48
Nothing at all.
373
996560
1200
什麼都不用怕。
16:50
Thank you.
374
998480
1216
謝謝。
16:51
(Applause)
375
999720
8026
（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Anil Seth - Cognitive neuroscientistHow can the "inner universe" of consciousness be explained in terms of mere biology and physics? Anil Seth explores the brain basis of consciousness and self.
Why you should listen
In his groundbreaking research, Anil Seth seeks to understand consciousness in health and in disease. As founding co-director of the University of Sussex’s Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, his research bridges neuroscience, mathematics, artificial intelligence, computer science, psychology, philosophy and psychiatry. He has also worked extensively with playwrights, dancers and other artists to shape a truly humanistic view of consciousness and self.
Seth is the editor and co-author of the best-selling 30-Second Brain, a collection of brief and engaging neuroscience vignettes. His forthcoming book The Presence Chamber develops his unique theories of conscious selfhood within the rich historical context of the mind and brain sciences.
Follow Seth on Twitter at @anilkseth, and visit his website at anilseth.com and neurobanter.com. The Sackler Centre, at the University of Sussex, is at sussex.ac.uk/sackler. Seth's work is supported by the Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.
Anil Seth | Speaker | TED.com