Sultan Tarlacı

The boundaries of machine consciousness lie at the intersection of physics, biology, and metaphysics. Although computational power advances rapidly, it remains constrained by the fundamental laws of the universe. Jack Ng (2000) demonstrated that the product of processing speed and stored information is limited by Planck time—the smallest measurable unit of time (≈10⁻⁴³ s)—establishing an ultimate ceiling for information processing. These physical limits suggest that no artificial system can transcend the quantum–gravitational constraints inherent to reality. In contrast, the human brain functions as a dynamic biochemical and electrical system—a “chemical soup” of neurotransmitters, receptors, and ion channels generating subjective awareness. Yet, how consciousness and selfhood emerge from this biological complexity remains unresolved. This study contrasts dualistic and monistic interpretations of consciousness. Dualism posits a metaphysical “essence” beyond material explanation, implying that true artificial consciousness is unattainable. Monism views consciousness as an emergent property of neural information dynamics, potentially reproducible in machines. Ultimately, while machines may simulate awareness, they cannot replicate the quantum–metaphysical foundation of human consciousness. Thus, the final word on artificial consciousness remains unspoken—bounded by both physics and philosophy.

This editorial presents a comprehensive analysis of the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy's digital performance and reader engagement over approximately four years, from its establishment through March 2026. Leveraging detailed analytics data encompassing user demographics, engagement metrics, content performance, search engine visibility, and technological access patterns, we examine the journal's growth trajectory, global reach, and academic influence. The analysis reveals that JNphi has successfully attracted 37,835 active users who generated 355,116 interactions, with particularly strong engagement from key regions including the United States, China, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Notable findings include exceptional reader engagement metrics from Turkey, Italy, and Iran, high visibility for articles addressing artificial intelligence, free will, and consciousness, and emerging traffic from AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. The journal demonstrates robust performance in direct and organic search traffic, with Google Scholar serving as a significant referral source—confirming JNphi's recognition within the academic community. This editorial celebrates these achievements while offering strategic reflections for continued growth and enhanced reader engagement in the evolving digital publishing landscape.

__The Tenant in the Mind__ by Mark Christhilf explores the enigmatic concept of consciousness, examining its presence as a fundamental force that shapes both individual identity and the universe itself. The introduction highlights that while consciousness is essential to human experience, it remains an unresolved mystery, with scientists and philosophers divided over its nature and origin. Christhilf proposes that consciousness isn't merely a biological phenomenon but a universal force active in everything, from atoms to galaxies, and central to societal structures and personal ethics. _The Tenant in the Mind_ by Mark Christhilf is a comprehensive exploration of consciousness as both a personal experience and a universal force. The book begins with an acknowledgment of the mystery of consciousness, a phenomenon felt by all but not fully understood. Consciousness, Christhilf argues, is not only central to human thought and identity but also permeates the physical world and the universe, influencing everything from atomic structures to global political systems. The author frames consciousness as a universal principle, operating through both creation and destruction, which guides human ethics, societal structures, and individual growth.

This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of the neurobiology underlying the Milgram Obedience Experiment, a cornerstone in understanding human behavior under authority. Beginning with an examination of traumatic historical events, particularly the Holocaust, the manuscript delves into the psychological underpinnings of obedience. It discusses how individuals, like Adolf Eichmann, rationalized their actions as mere adherence to orders, a phenomenon later empirically studied by Stanley Milgram. Milgram's experiments, conducted at Yale University, demonstrated a startling willingness among ordinary people to inflict harm when instructed by an authority figure, with a significant proportion of participants administering what they believed were lethal electric shocks to others. The review further explores the neurobiological aspects of obedience, emphasizing the role of mirror neurons and empathetic responses. It highlights how obedience to authority can diminish empathetic responses and alter the neural processing of actions and consequences. This diminished sense of agency and responsibility when following orders is contrasted with situations where individuals act on their own volition, shedding light on the complex interplay between authority, morality, and neurobiology. In conclusion, this review not only provides a deep insight into Milgram's obedience experiments but also extends the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that drive human behavior in contexts of authority and obedience. It underscores the intricate balance between individual autonomy and susceptibility to external influences, a balance that is crucial in understanding both historical events and contemporary societal dynamics.

Anxiety is a pathological condition, as well as a condition that is continued in nature according to the event and situation to keep the vitality alive. For this reason, it is challenging to examine the relationship between the perception of time and the anxiety disease experienced within the limits of normality. Anxiety is one of the most studied topics today. It is also thought that the physical symptoms of anxiety affect cognitive processes. Anxiety, which is observed either alone or in combination with many disorders, shows a possible relationship between the perception of time and some findings related to the subject. These findings show us that people with anxiety disorder have a faster perception of time and a shorter perception estimation. Noticeably more significant differences were found in studies withadolescents. This study used the Beck Anxiety Scale, Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Retrospective and Prospective Time Perception Paradigm, and a Demographic Information Form to collect data. As the variables thought to affect the results of the study were detected in 44 of the 212 randomly selected participants, these participants were excluded from the evaluation, and this study was continued with the data of 168 participants. When the findings are evaluated in general, there is a significant difference between the anxiety scale scores of the sample group and the gender variable. According to this finding, it can be said that the level of anxiety varies between men and women. By looking at the 10, 20, 30, and 40-second video reactions of the participants showing anxiety symptoms; It has been determined that anxiety impairs the time perception of individuals.

Neurophilosophy is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines neuroscience and philosophy to better understand the nature of the mind and consciousness. It is based on the idea that advances in our understanding of the brain can shed light on longstanding philosophical questions about the nature of the self, free will, consciousness, and the relationship between the mind and the body. At its core, neurophilosophy is concerned with exploring the relationship between the brain and the mind, and understanding how neural processes give rise to mental phenomena such as consciousness, perception, thought, and emotion. It also seeks to address broader philosophical questions related to the nature of the self, free will, and the relationship between mind and body.

In this paper, we present a case study with quantitative EEG data to examine the neurophysiological effects of a specific breathing and meditation practice rooted in the Sufi esoteric practices of the Islamic tradition. The practice includes several coordinated cognitive activities. To evaluate the effects of the chosen breath and meditation practice, we compared the functional states of the brain in five frequency bands before and after the completion of a 10-week practice. Statistically significant differences were found particularly in coherence and absolute power scores which are recorded during a no-task state. The increased synchronization and coherence within and between brain regions suggest that changes may be associated with negative entropy quality of spiritual energies. Conversely, the positive entropy has proven to be basis of many mental and physical disorders such as depression. This brain exercise helps permanently reshape the functional connectivity in the brain in a more neurologically conducive way. ER -

We have many biological systems that regulate the perception of time, which is one of our most essential abilities that allows subjectively predicting, perceiving and understanding the duration of experiences, feelings and achievements. There are findings obtained from many studies aiming to illuminate the place and importance of time, which was the most critical reference point for human understanding of life in the past, for us mammals. According to these findings, it is observed that there is a similar mechanism that provides the perception of time in almost every living organism. Time perception is vital for the healthy functioning of cognitive activities, physiological needs and behavioral relations, and the bio-psycho-social order's systematicity. Among the studies conducted, the findings obtained in the studies related to the effect of psychiatric disorders on the perception of time are somewhat blurry compared to the others. The research for this study was based on six basic Polymorphisms known to affect time perception and internal clock mechanisms. These are as follows: SLC6A4 / 5-HTTLPR, 5HT2A / T102C, DRD2 / TAQ1A, SLC6A3 / 3UTR VNTR, COMT / VAL158MET, GABRB2 A/C, CLOCK. In our study, the relationship between the rs1800497 polymorphism, which is one of these seven polymorphisms that are effective in the functioning of the internal clock in the human brain, and the inventory used in the measurement of anxiety, was examined in 14 participants. Beck Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety, and PCR was used to detect genetic variants. When the findings were evaluated, no significant relationship was found between anxiety and DRD2 rs1800497 polymorphism. ER -