In their recent article, Kirsch and Hyland questioned the relation between psychological and associated neurophysiological phenomena in the introduction of complementarity into psychology. Mishkin's work on the neurophysiological basis of memory and perception provides an example of the extension of complementarity that I have proposed and that can serve as the basis for empirical testing of this extension. Mishkin's thesis that memory storage occurs at sensory stations in the cortex allows for the resolution of a fundamental problem in cognitive psychology, (...) namely the reciprocal dependence of perception and memory. Also, Mishkin's thesis allows that psychological phenomena do not depend on an objective world for their existence. (shrink)

Elitzur maintains that in quantum mechanical measurement consciousness does not have a significant impact on the physical world. His thesis is refuted through an elaboration of Schrödinger's gedankenexperiment called the cat paradox. The generally conservative tone of Elitzur's article as regards the involvement of consciousness in the physical world is discussed. Through discussing the conservation of energy and the second law of thermodynamics much differently than did Elitzur, it is shown how the involvement of human cognition in the functioning of (...) the physical world can be found in the structure of physical theory itself. Elitzur's major argument concerning a demonstration of a non-material basis for consciousness is shown to be inadequate. (shrink)