Friday, January 29, 2010

8-Circuit Model of Consciousness (Wikipedia)

The Eight Circuits

Note: The names for the circuits used by Dr. Timothy Leary [1] [2] [3] are shown first and the names for the circuits used by Robert Anton Wilson are shown in parentheses [4](they both used the same names for the first, second, and fifth circuits). After the name of the circuit, the name that was used by Dr. Timothy Leary to describe the level of consciousness that is activated by that circuit is shown in parentheses [5].

[edit] 1. The Biosurvival Circuit (The Breath of Consciousness)

Imprinted in infancy, concerned with suckling, nourishment, cuddling, bio-security etc. The imprinting of this circuit sets up the basic attitude of trust or suspicion which will last for life. First activated when a human being is born, and programs perception onto an either-or grid, divided into nurturing-helpful and noxious-dangerous (approach/accept vs. flight/flee). Leary thinks that this circuit is stimulated in adults by opioid drugs. This circuit is said to have appeared in the earliest evolution of invertebrate brain. This circuit begins with 1 spatial dimension, forward/back.

Winner Script: I will live forever, or die trying. Loser Script: I don’t know how to defend myself.

[edit] 2. The Emotional-Territorial Circuit (Freud's Ego)

Imprinted in the toddling stage, concerned with emotions, domination and submission strategies, territory etc. The first imprint on this circuit identifies the stimuli which will automatically trigger dominant, aggressive behavior or submissive, co-operative behavior. This circuit is activated with abundant quantities of alcohol. This circuit appeared first in territorial vertebrate animals. This circuit introduces a 2nd dimension; up/down.

Winner Script: I am free; you are free; we can have our separate trips or we can have the same trip. Loser Script: They all intimidate me.

[edit] 3. The Symbolic (Neuro-Semantic-Dexterity) Circuit (The Rational-Empirical Mind)

Imprinted by human artifacts and symbol systems. Concerned with handling the environment, invention, calculation, prediction, building a “map” of the universe etc. It is associated with physical dexterity and Caffeine, speed, cocaine and a high protein diet activate this circuit. This circuit supposedly appeared first when hominids started differentiating from the rest of the primates.

Winner Script: I am learning more about everything, including how to learn more. Loser Script: I can't solve my problems.

[edit] 4. The Domestic (Socio-Sexual) Circuit (The "Adult" Personality)

Imprinted by the first orgasm-mating experiences and tribal “morals”. Concerned with sexual pleasure, (instead of sexual reproduction) local definitions of “moral” and “immoral”, reproduction, nurture of the young etc. This circuit is basically concerned with operating within social networks and the transmission of culture across time. This circuit is said to have first appeared with the development of tribes.

Winner Script: Love, and do what thou wilt. Loser Script: Everything I like is illegal, immoral, or fattening.

[edit] 5. The Neurosomatic Circuit (Zen-Yoga Mind-Body-Connexion)

Concerned with neurological-somatic feedbacks, feeling high, somatic reprogramming etc. The fifth circuit, according to Leary, is consciousness of the body. There is a marked shift from linear visual space to an all-encompassing aesthetic sensory space. A hedonic turn-on occurs, a rapturous amusement, a detachment from the previously compulsive mechanism of the first four circuits. This circuit is stimulated by ecstatic experiences via physiological effects of marijuana and MDMA, yoga, tantra (Leary's name for tantra was hedonic engineering), Zen meditation and free fall. Leary describes that this circuit first appeared in the upper classes with the development of leisure-class civilizations around 2000 BC.

Winner Script: How I feel depends on my neurological knowhow. Loser Script: I can't help the way I feel.

[edit] 6. The Neuroelectric (Metaprogramming) Circuit (Psionic Electronic-Interface Mind)

Concerned with re-imprinting and re-programming all earlier circuits, relativity of “realities” perceived, cybernetic consciousness, so-called PSI/magical powers, etc. The sixth circuit consists of the nervous system becoming aware of itself. Leary says this circuit enables telepathic communication and associates it with peyote, psilocybin, MDA and yage, as well as being associated with computer games. This circuit is traced by Leary back to 500 BC and he associates it with the Silk Road.

Winner Script: I make my own coincidences, synchronicities, luck, and Destiny. Loser Script: Why do I have such lousy luck?

[edit] 7. The Neurogenetic (Morphogenetic) Circuit (Buddha-Monad 'Mind')

Concerned with evolutionary consciousness (past and future), DNA-RNA-brain feedbacks (ancestral, societal and scientific), Jung’s “Collective unconscious” etc. The first to achieve this mutation spoke of “memories of past lives”, “reincarnation”, “immortality” etc. This circuit is stimulated by LSD, Raja Yoga etc. The circuit first appeared among the Hindus in the early first millennium and later reappeared among the Sufi sects.

Winner Script: Future evolution depends on my decisions now. Loser Script: Evolution is blind and impersonal.

[edit] 8. The Psychoatomic (Quantum Non-Local) Circuit (Overmind)

Concerned with quantum consciousness, non-local awareness (information from beyond ordinary space-time awareness which is limited by the speed of light), illumination, out-of-body experiences, astral projection, contact with alien entities (which does not necessarily specifically refer to only materially based creatures from outer space, but rather all beings, including e.g. angels) or with a galactic Overmind etc. Some of the ways this circuit can get activated are the awakening of kundalini, shock, near-death experience etc. This circuit has even been compared to the Buddhist concept of Indra's net from the Avatamsaka Sutra. Leary associated large doses of LSD (1,000 mcg), Ketamine and DMT with this circuit.

Winner Script: In the province of the mind, what is believed to be true is true, or becomes true within certain limits to be learned by experience and experiment. Loser Script: I am not psychic, and I doubt anyone is.

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