A System about Which There is No Awareness Originates in the Right Hemisphere: Support from Studies of Schizophrenia

Problem theory depends on an a priori relation between six key problems. People appear to have adapted to it through evolution. A protective system called the backup operates when of these problems, the freedom problem, is salient. Neuroscience findings about this especially support the theory. Yet awareness is entirely lacking. It is argued that a system R originates on the right, parallel to one on the left, L that becomes the mind. R and L invent different languages for decision making and are kept apart. Accepting and exerting influence are also kept apart, leading to four subsystems. Each is active in a different microstate type and one EEG frequency band becomes important there. R and L communicate by leaving images in the cortex. R decides which of the key problems is important. Studies of schizoprenia are reviewed because the disorder is associated with poor judgment of what is important. Indeed different kinds of observation repeatedly point to the malfunctioning or abnormality of R in the disorder, supporting its supposed role. Competition between certainty and freedom problems provides R with a dilemma of choosing between them. R creates images with false information that turn attention one way or the other. Hallucinations typically turn attention to the certainty problem. Information that creates a difficult false task turns it to the freedom problem. Hallucinations interfere with perception and create loss of connectivity on the left, but that from the backup is greater. Some drugs, risperidone for example, might resemble chemical triggers for one of the later key problems. A study of R's normal functioning points to its intelligence and understandability. It listens in to conversations. Treatment that raises hope about the certainty and freedom problems and clarifies L's behavior for R is suggested. Integrating education with the key problems would strengthen R.