this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2025
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Complex, integrated electrical patterns rather than just the presence of a specific chemical.
The measure of electrical activity in the motor cortex (visible via EEG) that builds up milliseconds before a person makes a conscious, voluntary movement. It’s distinct from the sharp spike of a reflex.
If the action originates from the Prefrontal Cortex (executive function/planning), it’s generally considered "conscious effort." If the signal bypasses the cortex and stays in the brainstem or spinal cord, it’s a reflex.
I'm not sure what you're referring to with the "chemical" thing. I didn't say anything about a chemical marker, is that like a theory of consciousness? I've never heard of it, I'd like to at least investigate it if you can provide a link. I can't find any references linking consciousness to a specific chemical, but I admittedly didn't look all that hard.
I was using "chemical" as a shorthand for simple, automatic biological triggers to contrast them against complex, integrated networking.
i.e, for a Venus fly trap, a trigger (like a fly touching a hair) releases chemicals (ions like Calcium) that cause an electrical wave. This wave forces water to move quickly out of cells (turgor pressure), making the leaf collapse shut.
Consciousness is measurable because it’s not just that simple chemical reflex. It is the complex electrical buildup (readiness potential) in the brain's cortex that happens before the action.