Neurology and individuality in Westworld: A discussion
By Ashley Davis
Westworld takes us on many journeys, but ultimately I believe the destination is found by looking inward, at things like neurology, individuality, the inception of consciousness, and how we define our own freedom in decision-making.
The Bicameral Brain
With the bicameral brain no longer a feature in modern neuroscience, it’s interesting to see it in a future context. The corpus callosum is quite important, but are we talking about humans or AI? Bicameralism may have had a resurgence in Westworld’s future setting and possibly new future definition in that context.
William vs. Ford
Different doesn’t always mean inferior when it comes to neurology, but clearly, William has made an error where Ford (with or without Arnold/Bernard) has not. But if the secret lies within the red spherical core, why is Charlotte trying to remove an entire host from the park?
What is their neurological function based on? What else is inside them that matters? I suspect it’s the hidden abilities, like the voice, to control the weapon, but wouldn’t that be stored in the core?
Individuality as a Concept
Past that, especially looking at Abernathy (who is at the heart of this mystery for me), we have to address the problem of individuality. It’s central to human perception of consciousness but based on the episode “Akane No Mai”, has been shattered for at least some of our hosts, namely Maeve.
Does replicated programming lead to a lack of individuality if she has indeed found true consciousness, as exhibited in her decision on the train? Or do the counterparts take different paths now? We shall see.
We already know human weaknesses are replicated when using the MIB’s original method for implanting human consciousness into a host. Interesting that he chose white while Ford/Bernard chose red. I wonder what Emily/Grace would choose?
Character Neurology
We know Bernard has a bigger role on varying timelines with this, but which one? On that level, I think we all know that there is more than one Bernard by now, and they’re definitely not all Arnold or Bernard. The last episode made it fairly obvious as to who one of them is, and I’m fairly certain about another, but the moment of violence in the lab during that episode doesn’t seem to match any of our choices.
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Bernard will eventually have to face his other selves, probably both literally and metaphorically, to find his “story.” I believe his journey to self-awareness has only one logical path, but it’s going to be a messy, complicated one, which mirrors him as a character nicely.
Teddy’s fate will, likewise, probably be complex. I spent most of Season 1 telling my husband that the repetition and flatness of Teddy’s character despite his recurring presence on the show was on purpose, and we’ve taken the first big steps in proving that.
On that note, my recurring argument for neurological function and AI has been the same for years: “Everything is code.” I’m a programmer. It’s true. I say it all the time. But Westworld stole my signature line? Not cool, HBO. (Kidding!)
Outside References
On another side of things, there are some broader mysteries to ponder. Namely references to Lazarus and Argos. Distractors or indicators of what we’re up against? Are Ford and Arnold who and what we thought they were? Maybe it is that simple, but I don’t think so.
I’m looking forward to the little surprises Ford has left “behind” for us. The other narrower questions—Emily/Grace, human-to-host replication, the stain that oddly remained on Dolores’s abdomen, Charlotte’s background and intentions—I think will be answered within this season, and I hope their answers don’t follow the plot of the original Futureworld too closely.
If you do some digging in neuroscience journals, I think you’ll find some answers as to what we might be missing.
Westworld Predictions
Where do we go from here? My predictions are a further decline in Dolores before she “finds” her true self among the many pieces of her construction (the key to that still unknown), Maeve and her army continuing to kick ass across the world lines, and some insight into the Emily storyline in the next episode.
More insight into Ford and Arnold as well as their ultimate conclusions on the inflection point of consciousness (and on which timeline they had those revelations) will likely remain a mystery for a while, but it’s coming and in a big way.
Next: Westworld speculation and misdirection: questions and inconsistencies in ‘Phase Space’
Teddy will begin his journey to introspection, to the center of his maze, but he’ll have quite a bit to adjust to. And we need to know more about his construction to know how he’ll respond. Is simulated reality still reality because it’s happening? Does it matter to whom or what it happens?
The bridge between truth and simulation is our Sphinx’s riddle (and Delos already burned for that, not realizing that the realization of life and death would destroy him rather than giving him access to something more; I suppose he assumed he was the traveler in the maze when he was the Sphinx all along).
But how far does that bridge really extend? References frames in relativistic physics prove that both can be true. I suspect that’s the case here. The lines are blurring and I think we’re about to flip the script.
Upcoming Questions for Westworld
1. Will we see more of Akane? Or just Armistice?
2. Are my suspicions about William’s daughter, based on numerous hints, going to be confirmed, or are we being misdirected?
3. Is Maeve still on a loop (just one that has consciousness programmed into it), and, by extension, her new counterparts?
4. Who was Bernard in the violent lab scene?
5. How did that patch of blood appear on Dolores when it shouldn’t have?
6. How far has Ford gone to prove his ultimate point?
7. I definitely want to see more Clementine!
Credit to a renowned neurologist, AI specialist, and biologist who made sure this physicist’s science was solid. They have chosen to remain anonymous.
Make sure to watch our site and podcast for more insight into these questions!
Westworld airs every Sunday at 9 PM EST on HBO!
