Brain scan of nuns finds no single 'God spot' in the brain, Université de Montréal study finds
Sorry for the title, couldn't resist.
Actually, this is very close to a study I've wanted to do for about 5 years now. I would have chosen to use more than just representatives from one religion though. Religiously "strong" representatives from multiple religions. I am betting that we'll find one of two things: 1)each individual uses different parts of their brain in "religious" settings; 2)each religion's adherents brains will be affected slightly differently based on philosophy and approach.
I think #2 would be really, REALLY interesting, but #1 would be the result I'd put my money on.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Expert brains
Wired News: Music Makes Your Brain Happy
A fun article in Wired that talks a little about a recent upsurge in the interest in trying to define (or find) causes for genius or "natural" ability. There is also a Scientific American article (in the July issue I think) that treats the subject.
More here and here.
A fun article in Wired that talks a little about a recent upsurge in the interest in trying to define (or find) causes for genius or "natural" ability. There is also a Scientific American article (in the July issue I think) that treats the subject.
More here and here.
Happy Birthday!
Without even realizing it, Searching for Mind is now 2 years old.
Crazy. I've been blogging since 2001 or so in one form or another, but this is the blog that has generated the most interest for me personally, so I hope to keep it up for a lot longer.
Crazy. I've been blogging since 2001 or so in one form or another, but this is the blog that has generated the most interest for me personally, so I hope to keep it up for a lot longer.
Monday, August 21, 2006
The sun...recharging my powers....
Daytime light exposure dynamically enhances brain responses
So, don't sit in the Library all day, go out and sweat a little in the sun!
So, don't sit in the Library all day, go out and sweat a little in the sun!
Now n' Later
Current desires distort children's choices about the future
Anyone with kids could confirm this easily.
Anyone with kids could confirm this easily.
Ahh....maleable youth....
Study provides insight into how the brain loses plasticity of youth
One of the few things that being young has going for it.
One of the few things that being young has going for it.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Games for socialites
Some online video games found to promote 'sociability,' researchers say
They could have asked a gamer - we've know this for some time now. The same goes for telecommuters - there's really not much difference between the fundamental state of both parties.
They could have asked a gamer - we've know this for some time now. The same goes for telecommuters - there's really not much difference between the fundamental state of both parties.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I can see your mind
Scientists Getting Better at Mind-Reading
Actually, they're getting better at mind imaging, but, whatever.
Actually, they're getting better at mind imaging, but, whatever.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Color is perception
True colors are in the brain of the beholder
I blogged about this some time ago, but it looks like vision has far less to do with determining color and our brains do the bulk of the interpretation.
I blogged about this some time ago, but it looks like vision has far less to do with determining color and our brains do the bulk of the interpretation.
Thank goodness we don't have Microsoft brains
Scientists learn how the brain 'boots up' to process information from the senses
I didn't know that our brains ran software.[/sarcasm]
I hate the simplified way the media treats these types of developments.
I didn't know that our brains ran software.[/sarcasm]
I hate the simplified way the media treats these types of developments.
Children are still children
Kids need more time than adults give them, study finds
Turns out that children are still children despite higher expectations.
Turns out that children are still children despite higher expectations.
Bad news for OBGYNs
Ultrasound Affects Fetal Mouse Brains
Ethically it would be very difficult to study this on a human fetus, but the implication is there, so what do you do now? What kind of effect does it have? Long term? Short term?
This is a very intriguing study.
Ethically it would be very difficult to study this on a human fetus, but the implication is there, so what do you do now? What kind of effect does it have? Long term? Short term?
This is a very intriguing study.
Alert Jimmy the Greek
Brain's gambling circuitry identified
Vegas would be happy - now all we have to do is figure out how to non-invasively stimulate specific areas of the brain
Vegas would be happy - now all we have to do is figure out how to non-invasively stimulate specific areas of the brain
Must...remember...trivia....
Brain imaging identifies best memorization strategies
Now this is research that has some real practical value. Very cool.
Now this is research that has some real practical value. Very cool.
Brain control
Brain-controlled device could help the disabled
I'm pretty sure I blogged this earlier, but here it is again. An extremely cool development.
I'm pretty sure I blogged this earlier, but here it is again. An extremely cool development.
This is your computer on brains....
'Brainbox' Computer Mimics Human Brain
The struggle to copy the complex perfection of the brain continues....
Actually, this is more about modelling the "up time" of the human brain.
The struggle to copy the complex perfection of the brain continues....
Actually, this is more about modelling the "up time" of the human brain.
Stimulate my brain, baby....
Brain stimulation that may boost vision from the corner of your eye
Kind of interesting, but I'm not sure entirely what to make of it yet.
Kind of interesting, but I'm not sure entirely what to make of it yet.
Trial and error
Researchers find new learning strategy
Well, not so much new as re-defined. Trial and error was thought to be a good learning method as long as the error was small. However, it turns out that error doesn't scale. Error corrections in the opposite direction of the error tends to help learning.
So, go make a mistake or two.
Well, not so much new as re-defined. Trial and error was thought to be a good learning method as long as the error was small. However, it turns out that error doesn't scale. Error corrections in the opposite direction of the error tends to help learning.
So, go make a mistake or two.
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