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Studies show the value of not over-thinking a decision
Fishing in the stream of consciousness, researchers now can detect our intentions and predict our choices before we are aware of them ourselves. The brain, they have found, appears to make up its mind 10 seconds before we become conscious of a decision -- an eternity at the speed of thought. Fishing in the stream of consciousness, researchers now can detect our intentions and predict our choices before we are aware of them ... more
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Your Brain Lies to You
False beliefs are everywhere. Eighteen percent of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth, one poll has found. Thus it seems slightly less egregious that, according to another poll, 10 percent of us think that Senator Barack Obama, a Christian, is instead a Muslim. The Obama campaign has created a Web site to dispel misinformation. But this effort may be more difficult than it seems, thanks to the quirky way in which our brains store memories — and mislead us along the way. False beliefs are everywhere. Eighteen percent of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth, one poll has found. Thus it seems... more
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Brain Surgeons Don't Hold Cellphones To Their Ears
Young people would be at greatest risk for brain cancer because of a lifetime of exposure if they start using cell phones early.
The doctors use an earpiece. Young people would be at greatest risk for brain cancer because of a lifetime of exposure if they start using cell phones early. ... more -
Meditation found to increase brain size
People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input.
In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced in older than in younger people. That's intriguing because those sections of the human cortex, or thinking cap, normally get thinner as we age.
Meditators did Buddhist "insight meditation," which focuses on whatever is there, like noise or body sensations. It doesn't involve "om," other mantras, or chanting.
"The goal is to pay attention to sensory experience, rather than to your thoughts about the sensory experience," Lazar explains. "For example, if you suddenly hear a noise, you just listen to it rather than thinking about it. If your leg falls asleep, you just notice the physical sensations. If nothing is there, you pay attention to your breathing." Successful meditators get used to not thinking or elaborating things in their mind.
People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technolo... more -
George Lakoff explains why the Democrats have no clue about why we vote
George Lakoff studies language, what it means, how we use it and how it reflects our thoughts. He has looked deeply into how our mind is built and how our neurons work to make decisions. In short, he is a neurological linguist.
This interview from the young turks (theyoungturks.com) should be part of persuasion 101 for the liberal political movement. I have always been amazed that the meat of the political message is NEVER as important as the sizzle. Damn. Seems to keep the republicans in charge for ever. Even when they are vastly outgunned.
Yes, I know it's a lengthy video: learning how and why to create a sound bite can't be delivered as a sound bite. Sit back, turn on your mind and enjoy. George Lakoff studies language, what it means, how we use it and how it reflects our thoughts. He has looked deeply into how our mind... more -
Gay men and straight women share brain detail!
From the report: Gay men and straight women share some characteristics in the area of the brain responsible for emotion, mood and anxiety, researchers said on Monday in a study highlighting the potential biological underpinning of sexuality. From the report: Gay men and straight women share some characteristics in the area of the brain responsible for emotion, mood and anxi... more
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The universe: dark energy still puzzles scientists as it celebrates its 13.7 billi...
Yes, that picture above is a genuine picture of the Universe as a near whole compiled by astronomers data, pictures from Hubble and other data. Its like you were looking at it from yet another Universe, or from trillions of light years away.
Its been described as "bubbles within bubbles", "foam". I look at it and see some mystical, philosophical and religious symbolism.
To me, the Universe picture here is intertwined and connected in some way. One end of the Universe has a connection to the farthest end and so on.
I see butterflies, the true spirit of freedom and metamorphosis within us all. Everything is energy and energy is merely changed into something else when it dies, is burned or destroyed some how. We are made from atoms of stars and other suns and those atoms will move on after our bodies move on. We will all undergo a metamorphosis!
Each circle representing the 'foreverness', the never ending cycle of life. Eternity. Our atoms will live way beyond our physical life and be part of something else. Our conscious is made up of energy, energy that never dies. Our conscious will live on in another dimension, possibly a better one than this one, or a worse one...depending on the life you lived here.
I also see "Trinities" of circles. Three circles that stand out among the others in various areas. Life is also a trinity. We are born to live, we die and we are all transformed.
I see flowers, flowers that bloom in the spring to make the world we live in more colorful and more beautiful. Flowers mixed with the Butterflies!
Most of all, I see in this picture of the Universe, this picture of "Everything"...I see unity, harmony, and a design that could only be constructed by someone who is full of love. This Higher Power put this here for us to see, for if we were not here to see the Universe, would the Universe exists considering we are part of this grand scheme?
If we are supposed to have been created by a Creator that made us in His own image, then who are these people on this planet that love war, love hate, love lies, loves money? I believe they too have the power to love love and to bring peace in the world. They only need to get beyond the greed and hunger for power to become part of the whole.
When you read this linked article, you will see what man has done to try to explain our Universe, try to come up with a "Theory for Everything" in one breath. It's actually alot simpler than it looks. The theory for everything is that, well, we are everything!
I propose a birthday anniversary for the Universe. A yearly anniversary that celebrates the fact that we are all connected and are all the same. And that Love built this house we all live in.
Happy Birthday Universe!
peace,
louie Yes, that picture above is a genuine picture of the Universe as a near whole compiled by astronomers data, pictures from Hubble and ot... more -
"My Stroke Of Insight"
I’ve been recommending “My Stroke of Insight” to everyone I know. It’s the best book I’ve read all year! You can get Jill's book from Amazon for a good discount.
Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Stroke-Insight-Scientists-Pers...
I’ve been recommending “My Stroke of Insight” to everyone I know. It’s the best book I’ve read all year! You can get Jill's book from ... more -
Neuroscience: orgasming women have 'no emotional feelings'
Well that's what the researchers of an article in Scientific American have come to believe.
Apparently, neuroscientists have discovered that during orgasm men 'experience heightened activity in the emotion-processing centers of the brain,' whereas women's brains are emotionally 'shut-down' during arousal and orgasm.
Speaking on the findings, Martin Portner of Scientific American wrote:
"...when a woman reached orgasm, something unexpected happened: much of her brain went silent. Some of the most muted neurons sat in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex, which may govern self-control over basic desires such as sex."
Well that's what the researchers of an article in Scientific American have come to believe. ... more -
The woman who can't forget ANYTHING
Speaking publicly for the first time about her ability, the 42-year-old likened her daily life to a split-screen television - on one side is what she is doing in the present, on the other, the memories which keep flooding back.
Credit // The Daily Mail Speaking publicly for the first time about her ability, the 42-year-old likened her daily life to a split-screen television - on one s... more -
Possible new cure for paralysis!
Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a material that can be injected into the spine which encourages nerves to grow. While still in research, positive results have been found when they used the material in paralyzed mice. Hopefully one day we could just inject ourselves with a material that will heal everything! Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a material that can be injected into the spine which encourages nerves to grow. ... more
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Looking inside the brain in real time... and how to control your brain's activity
About this talk: neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demos an amazing new way to use fMRI to show brain activity while it is happening -- emotion, body movement, pain. (In other words, you can literally see how you feel.) The applications for real-time fMRIs start with chronic pain control and range into the realm of science fiction, but this technology is very real.
The implication here is that if you can see your brain's activity in real time, you can learn to control it in real time as well - the same way we can mimic someone else's physical behaviors. About this talk: neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demos an amazing new way to use fMRI to show brain activity while i... more -
Be Happier AND Change the Shape of Your Brain!
ABSTRACT
If happiness is an inner state, influenced by external conditions but not dependent on them, how can we achieve it? Ricard will examine the inner and outer factors that increase or diminish our sense of well-being, dissect the underlying mechanisms of happiness, and lead us to a way of looking at the mind itself based on his book, Happiness: A Guide to Life's Most Important Skill and from the research in neuroscience on the effect of mind-training on the brain. ABSTRACT ... more -
Learn about your parallel and serial world
This is why we can make choices for balance.
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Neuroscience shows exercise is 'Miracle-Gro' for the brain!
Lulled into a sedentary lifestyle? Our bodies -- and our BRAINS -- can get flabby from a chronic lack of physical exertion. Psychiatrist and Harvard university professor John Ratey reveals in a new book "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" that the single most important tool people have to optimize brain functions *is* exercise.
Cognitive performance increases, the effects of stress are lessened, and even the negative consequences of women's hormonal changes can be "toned down." Neuroscience discoveries show that BDNF -- brain-derived neurotrophic factor [a protein that helps build and maintain the cell circuitry in the brain] is elevated with exercise.
Exercise benefits include delaying cognitive decline by as much as seven to 10 years! It plays a huge role in maintaining and regaining cognitive function.
Change your BRAIN for the better!
Exercise! =) Lulled into a sedentary lifestyle? Our bodies -- and our BRAINS -- can get flabby from a chronic lack of physical exertion. Psychiat... more -
YouTube - Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight
"Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another." "Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a m... more
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Scientists can now read your mind
Eureka! or yikes? Scientists have developed a computerized mind reader that can accurately predict images people are looking at by scanning brain activity. The computer was able to correctly predict 9 out of 10 images, while guesswork would only had an 8 of 1000 success rate.
Like with most technological breakthrough, there are pros and cons:
Awesome: They say the study raises the possibility of future technology that can harness your dreams or memory and put them into visual scenes. I've always wanted to record my dreams! Could this become reality? Would you want your dreams documented?
Not awesome: Concerns about privacy and involuntary or uninformed consent have been raised as well, particularly as the technology is improved. Eureka! or yikes? Scientists have developed a computerized mind reader that can accurately predict images people are looking at by sca... more -
Richard Dawkins Puts On The God Helmet
"A short clip from the Horizon documentary - God on the brain - showing Richard Dawkins volunteering to participate in one of Michael Persinger's experiments - in an attempt to experience god." "A short clip from the Horizon documentary - God on the brain - showing Richard Dawkins volunteering to participate in one of Michael ... more
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Scientists stumble upon a way to reverse memory loss
During experimental brain surgery, a team of scientists have stumbled upon a mechanism that could hold the key to understanding how memory works. The accidental breakthrough came as a result of deep-brain stimulation. What was meant to suppress the patient's appetite instead lead to an intense experience of déja vu. They're now applying this technique in a trial to treat Alzheimer's patients, and if successful will offer hope in the form of a brain "pacemaker". During experimental brain surgery, a team of scientists have stumbled upon a mechanism that could hold the key to understanding how me... more
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Ken Wilber Stops His Brain Waves
We asked Ken to do a short 10-minute commentary on these various meditative states and the corresponding brain-wave patterns that are shown on the EEG machine in the video. Ken enters four meditative states (nirvikalpa closed eyes, nirvikalpa open eyes, sahaj, and mantra-savikalpa), each of which has a very distinctive brain-wave pattern. In his commentary, Ken emphasizes that the patterns shown on this machine may or may not be typical, but they do emphasize that profound consciousness states can be evoked at will, and these show immediate correlation in brain-wave patterns.
We asked Ken to do a short 10-minute commentary on these various meditative states and the corresponding brain-wave patterns that are ... more
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Neuroscience
