When the Mind Comes to Live Inside the Body: The Ontogeny of the Perceptual Control Clock

In this editorial, we discuss the neurobiological processes underlying the early emergence of awareness that we term the when and how the mind comes to live inside the body. We describe an accumulative developmental process starting during embryonic life and continuing to fetal and postnatal development, of coupling of heart rate, body movements, and sleep states on the behavioral level with underlying mechanisms on the structural, functional, cellular, and molecular levels. A developmental perspective is proposed based on Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). This includes a developing sequence of modules starting from early sensing of neural intensities to early manifestation of human mindful capacities. We also address pharmacological treatments administered to preterm infants, which may interfere with this development, and highlight the need to consider this potential side effect of current pharmaceuticals when developing novel pharmacogenomic treatments.

Automated summary

In this editorial, the neurobiological processes underlying the early emergence of awareness are discussed, focusing on the timing and mechanism of the mind's integration into the body. A developmental perspective based on Perceptual Control Theory is proposed, highlighting the coupling of behavioral manifestations with underlying mechanisms on various levels. The potential interference of pharmacological treatments administered to preterm infants is also addressed, emphasizing the importance of considering the side effects of current pharmaceuticals in the development of novel treatments.