Question: Identifying and Potentially Transferring a Neural Pattern of “Self”
Hello,
I would like to ask the community a conceptual question that lies at the intersection of neuroscience, cognitive science, and neural engineering.
I am trying to understand — purely at a theoretical level — whether the following sequence is neurobiologically coherent, partially plausible, or fundamentally contradictory:
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identifying a neural pattern involved in self-referential processing (“I”, or the self ↔ world relation),
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attempting to synchronize this pattern with a neural organoid,
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and testing whether the organoid can partially reproduce or maintain that dynamic configuration.
This is not a claim that such a transfer is currently achievable.
My goal is to understand which parts contradict established neuroscience, and which are simply beyond current technology but do not violate first principles.
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1. Identifying a neural pattern of self-referential processing
By “pattern” I do not mean a fixed set of neurons, but a dynamic configuration — a distributed, stable profile of rhythms, phases, synchronies, and functional clusters that emerges during acts of self-awareness.
Question:
Are there studies indicating that a stable, individual-specific pattern of self-referential processing can be isolated using current methods (fMRI/MEG, dynamic connectivity analysis, optical recordings, etc.)?
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2. Synchronizing such a pattern with a neural organoid
If such a pattern can be at least partially characterized, the next conceptual step is to ask whether it could be used to drive or entrain an organoid.
Hypothetical framework:
• the organoid is derived from iPSCs,
• interfaced via MEA, optogenetics, or magnetic systems,
• and receives correlated oscillatory rhythms or activity from the host brain.
Questions:
• How realistic is deep phase or rhythm synchronization between a living brain and an organoid?
• Are there documented cases where an organoid reproduces the dynamics of an external neural network?
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3. Attempting a (speculative) dynamic “transfer”
If synchronization is achievable, a further speculative idea arises:
Could temporary suppression of the original brain activity lead the brain to “restore” the missing pattern through the interface — allowing part of the dynamic configuration to emerge inside the organoid as a compensatory process?
This leads to a broader conceptual question:
Can aspects of self-awareness be treated as transferable dynamic processes rather than strictly tissue-bound properties?
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4. Could an organoid maintain the pattern autonomously?
If the organoid continues to exhibit a similar dynamic configuration after the original brain cluster is inhibited:
• would this be merely an imitation?
• or could it be viewed as a partial functional transfer?
• where exactly is the boundary between those two interpretations?
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5. Linking the organoid to another brain
Finally — the most speculative step, yet important for understanding the conceptual limits.
If the organoid stores or maintains a fragment of the pattern, could it be connected to a second brain that does not yet exhibit self-awareness, forming a temporary triad:
original brain → organoid → new brain?
Two constraints seem necessary:
• a second brain with an existing, fully formed “self” would not enter such coupling, as its endogenous dynamics would dominate or prevent integration;
• the original brain would only attempt such coupling under extreme conditions, for example when its own survival or integrity is threatened, creating a “need” for transfer.
This leads to a central question:
If the self-related dynamics remain coherent while the surrounding network architecture — the patterns and clusters they normally interact with — gradually changes, and even after the original brain is disconnected, does the subjective continuity of “I” persist?
Or is this only an imitation without phenomenal continuity?
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What I hope to learn from this discussion
I’m not trying to prove a futuristic scenario.
Rather, I want to understand:
• which parts contradict established neuroscience,
• which parts are speculative but not logically impossible,
• where conceptual room remains for inquiry,
• and which existing methods (fMRI, MEG, optogenetics, organoids, MEA interfacing, dynamic connectivity analysis) might allow testing of limited elements of this idea.
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Key questions for the community
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Can an individually stable neural pattern of self-awareness be isolated?
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Is deep synchronization between a brain and an organoid feasible?
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Can a dynamic pattern “flow” into an organoid when the original activity is suppressed?
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If an organoid maintains such a pattern, is this functional transfer or imitation?
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What would linking such a stored pattern to another brain imply for subjective selfhood?
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If this idea is naive, please say so.
If it contradicts fundamental principles — even better.
Any critique, references, or expert opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.