The psychological puzzle presented by physiological acts

Physiological acts present the puzzle that we are unable to explain how we performed them, how we solved the technical difficulties involved in their execution. For instance, when we sing, we produce various musical notes by changing the shape of the larynx. The normal person does not even know what the larynx looks like, let alone its configurations corresponding to various notes and the combination of the 19 muscles acting on the larynx that has to be activated to bring about the required configuration.

Some psychologists offer the explanation that the technical details are worked out by a computer-like mechanism. But how could a computer start controlled cell proliferation in the repair of an injury?

Another idea (originally put forward by Leibniz around 1700) is the complex character of the mind. The mind may incorporate a multitude of personalities. Subordinate personalities, some, perhaps, specialising on various tasks, may carry out the orders of the commanding personality. Objection: most physiological tasks, for instance digestion or the fight against invading microorganisms, are completely unconscious. The ‘myself’ personality could not even issue commands regarding the repair of injuries or the fight against microorganisms.

Proposed solution: At an early stage of evolution the body of a higher animal divides itself into three compartments, each specialising on a different task of life. The three parts correspond to the entoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm appearing at an early part of ontogenetic development. The task of the entoderm is metabolism, that of the mesoderm mainly the mechanical aspects of life, that of the ectoderm gathering information from and reacting to the outside world. Each of these is probably of a composite character.

The myself personality is the equivalent of the ectoderm, not of the whole body. The technical details of its commands are worked out by subordinate personalities. So are the commands of the mesodermal and entodermal divisions.

Dreams could be attempts of communication between the germ layers.