So does brain have massively parallel architecture where key things have their own core?
However, when it comes to peripherals like heart and lung, the distribution goes beyond just the brain - the heart, for example, has a built-in pacemaker called the sino-atrial node [1], which produces a periodic signal with high precision; the brain just sends it signals to control the period of its oscillations.
Similarly, a number of reflexes which involve responses to physical danger (withdrawal from burns, knee-tapping) aren't actually handled by the brain; the spinal cord sends the reflex commands as soon as the sensory information hits it, to avoid the round trip all the way to the brain.
Not sure that’s that true though (I’ve heard about thus before). I can definitely consciously burn myself.
On the other hand I can’t stop myself from moving my foot when it’s tapped.
That sounds like consciously overriding the reflex[0] withdrawal though, as opposed to accidentally touching something hot, and withdrawing reflexively.
Adding anecdata: I've definitely touched something hot and withdrawn my finger/hand/whatever quickly enough to avoid getting burned when I by all rights should have. You know, something hot enough that anything but incidental contact would result in a burn.
[0] Reflex is probably not the right word. I can't consciously override the kneecap/kick reflex, for instance.
I don't know what that has to do with consciousness, since I didn't decide to suppress anything.
another stupid perspective: think of how many clever algorithms and how much computational hardware would be necessary to simulate a small rock from a QM level up. now, what if there was a bespoke piece of super-custom application-specific technology that could efficiently simulate that small rock? there is: it's the rock itself.