MIND AND DECISION-MAKING

The MIND makes conscious decisions about: 1) selective attention to sensory systems, 2) evaluation of emotions, 3) determinations of order in cognition, 4) selection of behavior initiations,  and 5) determination of speech content.

Decision of Sensory Focus.We are, for the most part, aware of only one sensory system input at a time and, thus, we consciously block-out some input systems to the attention of other.   For example, careful listening for a particular sound extinguishes visual inputs and touch for short periods.   Also a stare may have associated lack of conscious sound input.  Attention is provided to the most intense of sensory inputs.  Rapid switching between modalities is the way that we catch glimpses of the surrounding environment.

Decisions for Value Associations. Values placed on emotions are important in making conscious decisions. Values associated with decisions are instilled from development in individuals as self-esteem. Values are transmitted from family and culture and are reinforced through the positive and negative esteem rewarding.  These values develop as the basis of our personality.

Decisions in Cognition.Understanding is central to cognition.  Associations are determined by assembling functions and structures as to their order.  The choices defined by reasoning in cognition are basic to understanding  and providing the framework for decision making.

Decisions and Behavior.    All behaviors are performed by nerve to muscle or gland synapses. The MIND determines behaviors from movement patterns. The MIND does not consciously plan movement patterns during execution, however, but selects the target of the behavior that define the movements.  Pattern changes changes in movement are only modified through through conditioning processes. Clearly, all movement patterns are based on a platform of reflexes and are defined by programmed patterns of movement.  These movement patterns are produced by basal ganglial programs.  The MIND selects the movement patterns based on the target goal of the behavior from patterns fixed in the basal ganglia.  These movements are shaped by conditioning through MIND-decisions that evaluate trial and errors of patterned movements.
There are two basic types of patterned movements from circuits of the basal ganglia together with the cerebellum, thalamus and premotor cortex: 1) Ballistic patterned movement (can not be changed after the movement is in progress) and 2) Modifiable patterned movements (modified for muscle tone and MIND directed changes of the behavioral target). Both types are determined by patterns played out from the brain.  Nevertheless, the MIND uses capability of ballistic and modifiable determined movement patterns in making-decisions for generating behavior. Ballistic movements are entirely initiated and selected by the MIND.  In order to do a ballistic movement, the MIND decides to progress with the behavior while in modifiable patterned movements the action occurs without conscious determination of specific patterns and acts to only fulfill the goal of the behavior action.

Mind Control of Behavior. Decision-making by the MIND serves important roles in cognition and in initiation of behaviors. The central role of MIND is initiation of self-serving motor control for survival and reproduction. Most ongoing behaviors are performed unconscious of volitional determination. Most behaviors are performed by hard-wired and conditioned reflexes or by programmed patterned movements that are defined in brain circuitry. Behaviors are a combination of: 1) autonomic control of involuntary muscle and glands, 2) involuntary reflexes of voluntary muscle groups, 3) patterned movements of voluntarily muscle that are programmed in the brain for performing behaviors and 4) MIND initiated behaviors with generation of speech content. The role of MIND in behaviors is in decision-making for selecting and initiating behavioral patterns out of the repertoire of programmed movements. The MIND does not make decisions as to the mechanism of voluntary behavior but as the selector and decision initiator of voluntary behaviors defining behavioral targets, generation of speech content and to a small degree modulation of reflexes and non-volitional behavior-motor programs.

When the MIND is not operating such as during sleep or unconsciousness, reflexes are quiescent. As the MIND becomes conscious, sensory awareness returns and the MIND initiates anti-gravity, sensory-motor reflexes, eye movements, speech as well as behaviors using automatic movement programs. Once initiated, behaviors play-out from automatic basal ganglial programs, so much so, some can be difficult to interrupt. Examples are laughing, crying, certain patterns of movement and other emotional expressions. This is especially notable for ballistic movements that are most often initiated by MIND decision and are carried through to conclusion. the umpire ask the 1st or 3rd base coach if the made a strike, i.e. go around. The decision to raise the golf club to hitting position is made by the MIND but after the MIND initiates the ballistic swing the actual swing is an automatic patterned movement that is executed through the Direct Basal Ganglial Pathway. In the case of a punch to another individual, the MIND makes the decision to initiate the action. For example, the child can be taught to control his MIND for "NO HITTING".  Virtually, all ballistic movements are MIND initiated but are executed through automatic movement pattern generation of the basal ganglia (See image).

Improvements of patterns for ballistic movements are gained through trial and error practice. How many golf balls must Tiger Woods hit to gain uniformity of the ballistic response? A coach observing the actions is required to suggest improvement in the pattern. Ballistic movements have two parts: 1) hypertonicity in the movement setup formed by co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles before the action is to occur and 2) Tone release by relaxing the antagonist muscles allowing the highly forceful and high speed action. The cerebellum does not produce movement but produces the tone through sustaining co-contraction of the agonist to antagonist muscles. The cerebellum releases the antagonist muscle contraction through climbing fiber activity causing the Purkinje cells to inhibit the deep nuclear input to the relay motor thalamus (See ballistic image).

Modifiable Movements. We are mostly unaware of the form and even components of our own behaviors.  These are modifiable movements forming behaviors that are slower than ballistic components and can be changed or interrupted during action.  Modifiable movements are characteristics of individual’s movements that become programmed in development and pre-adulthood.   Movement conditioning occurs through trial and error conditioning during child play and youth sports. We see others walking and recognize the person by their familiar stride. Each individual is using their automatic programs of behavior patterns but the MIND is defining targets and goals of the actions for movement behaviors.  

These automatic behavior directives of patterned actions arise through the Indirect Basal Ganglial Pathway (see illustration). This pathway is linked through the premotor cortex, the association cortices, basal ganglial coursing through the subthalamic nucleus, and the cerebellar mossy fiber system.  The interactions of the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum through the motor thalamus forms a platform on which the MIND selects patterns of fine control of movement behaviors.

The sensory input is dynamically feed from the spinal cord and brainstem to the cerebellum and simultaneously from the cerebral cortex through the pons as cerebellum as mossy fibers. Muscular tone is maintained during movement by the cerebellar mossy fiber system operating dynamically to produce an on-going agonist and antagonist co-contraction. Movement patterns are linked to behavior goals and targets so that the MIND does not have to compile the movements during action but orders behavior for targets and goals.