The Neuropsychological Approach to the Consciousness in L.S. Vygotsky – A.N. Leontiev – A.R. Luria school

Abstract

Introduction

Existing polysemy in definitions of human consciousness creates the major difficulty in its understanding. With the development of intensive care modern methods, the number of patients survived after coma and dwelling in disorders consciousness conditions rises.

Aims

Among, the most important practical questions of neuropsychology is estimation of the patient's consciousness current condition. The solvation of these problems requires precise denotation of consciousness neuropsychological criteria.

Methods

All of definitions of consciousness in Russian psychological school, have the binarity as a common feature: in one hand, in view of the world, yourself, and another hand–extraction and differentiation of yourself from the ambient world (self-consciousness).

Results

Neuropsychological model of consciousness (in particular, self-consciousness) includes all higher psychological functions (HPF). However, condition of none of them cannot be sufficient criterion of consciousness estimation. In Russian psychology it is suggested to study the consciousness through its own characteristic, among which one can designate reflexivity, which includes cognitions and personal meanings.

Conclusions

It is possible to determine the quality of consciousness at a specific instant of time, through the system of human relations, as activity is motivated the knowledge is acquired, the affective side of the activity is determined, the self-consciousness is formed exactly through the personal meaning. Personal meaning can act as that quantity of consciousness (self-consciousness) analyses where the external reality and human attitude to this reality are differentiated. One can judge about a degree of contact between a human and a real world by indirect difference between them.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.