Phase III of the FP analysis of purgation: Testing the analysis by predicting the direction of information flow in the neurophysiological system.

A scientific test of the FP analysis of purgation can be made by predicting the directionality of information flow in the neural correlates between the variables in the causal loops of the flow diagram of Figure 2. A test of these predictions, however, can only be performed when neurophysiologists and other neuroscientists are enlisted to greatly refine what is presently my rather brief set of neural correlates of consciousness for purgation. These neural correlates are assembled as part of phase two of the FP analysis of purgation, just above. (Note: As for mystical union, no test can be made of that part of the FP analysis of PMU, because during mystical union the inner sense of time ceases. If the experiencer - who is also the analyst - does not experience an inner sense of time, the analyst cannot determine movement of information. Hence, the direction of the movement of information in the neurons cannot be determined for mystical union, but the neural correlates can definitely be determined for consciousness during purgation.)

Testing of the FP analysis of purgation is analogous to the testing that validated Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. In the famous initial test of the General Theory of Relativity, first Einstein had predicted the gravitational effects of Mercury's mass on the movement of light from the Sun to the Earth during the eclipse of the Sun by Mercury. Then, a successful test confirming that prediction excited physicists throughout the world. As more and more tests confirming various other predictions became available, physicists became more and more confident in the validity of the General Theory of Relativity.

Similarly, as the neural correlates of consciousness for purgation - or the abreaction of my trauma - become more and more refined through the help of neurophysiologists and other neuroscientists, eventually these neuroscientists can predict the direction of information flow in specific neurons at key points in the neurophysiological system of the human body, using the small arrowheads in the feedback loops in the flow diagram in Figure 2. Then the tests are as follows: Neurophysiologists examine both the physical orientation and the direction of causation in critical neurons. Then, if the predictions of direction of information flow in each critical neuron are found to be correct, scientists will become more and more confident in the validity of my analysis of purgation.

Arlen Wolpert
Draft of September 22,2005
http://theworld.com/~awolpert/gtr547.html
Return to homepage.