As AI draws comparisons to human cognition, the mystery of the mind grows more complex, raising crucial questions about its unused potential

The human mind is a unique organic entity whose lengths of reach and visions of the range are still to be fully mapped. Many believe that an average mind works at less than 30 per cent of its potential. Putting this in the context of artificial intelligence, the matter becomes even more complex. There is a theory doing the rounds in the field of artificial intelligence that suggests that entities of artificial intelligence have the potential of organic functioning, just like the human mind.

The evidence for this is fairly mixed. Some conclusions may emerge over time. The crucial question concerning artificial intelligence however does include its possibilities and potential for organic evolution and growth. As observed, sooner or later, answers will emerge. Even otherwise, the human mind is a suo motu logic of its existence. Attempts to map it, are indeed one of the exciting aspects of human endeavour.    Notwithstanding some breakthroughs in mapping the brain, there are areas of brain function that need a closer look both physically and operationally.  Interestingly, notwithstanding all this, there is a common reference to the ‘second childhood’ of human beings, where people, upon reaching a certain age, start behaving with childlike traits.   It is difficult to explain this process, but it is fairly obvious to notice. 

Similarly, the jury is out on the age by which, the basic orientation of the brain fully takes place. One also needs to know when it matures enough to develop a relationship between the ‘conscious’ brain and the ‘subconscious’ brain. 

Notwithstanding the diverse interpretations of the above narrative, it is obvious that at some stage the basic foundations of the mind seemingly get concretised.  One such example is the influence of early childhood experiences on a growing human being. There are stages of childhood emerging into early adulthood. 

All this becomes integral to the individual’s ways of thinking and behaving.  Popularly, this is known to affect the orientations of a growing individual on matters of finance, gender or for that matter even values. 

The list can be extended but more to the point one does not know, exhaustively, of all the influences which go into the making of an operationally adult human mind.  Very often, there may be latent influences on a human mind that may not manifest themselves until a much later point in adulthood.

All in all, many ambiguities remain, and so do many contradictions that stay alive so far as the working of the mind is concerned. Above all, it is generally believed that hormonal changes affect the working of the mind. Both men and women reportedly pass through menopause in their later life. Many are of the view that menopausal effects are more identifiable amongst the women than the men.  An issue, however, remains to be fully answered: what are the factors that influence the working of the mind? 

Yet another element that influences behaviour is the fall out of a mental shock.  It can have many approximations of derailing the thought process of the individual, and indeed, impacting many values. Put simply, many areas of thought, reflection, analysis, and research may contain indications of understanding the dynamics of the mind. It may be a challenge, but a challenge that cannot be evaded.

Further, there are also some transgenerational aspects to it. Say, how two parents deal with each other, or singly and collectively deal with a child is an important factor for the child’s growth. This can carry on across generations. Physiologically, the passing of some genes is known to happen across generations. 

This is not only in terms of physical characteristics but also certain diseases that may have affected one of the grandparents in a given generation and resurfaced again two generations later in the physical system of a descendant. The mapping of this process, as of today, needs much additional work to be done. 

This also contains a whole research agenda of human physiology, physical anthropology, medicines and more. Such a subject matter would deserve an integrated approach of not just, anthropology, psychology, genetic sciences and more, but a whole setup of support disciplines with appropriate interdisciplinary framework.

This will give insights into the physiology of the human being and the composition of the brain and mind. It is a challenging task, but it is a task that cannot be avoided.

(The writer is a well-known management consultant of international repute. The views expressed are personal)