http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

Here is a pretty interesting talk by a neuroscientist on having a stroke. She details from the perspective of a neuroscientist what a stroke feels like, and the discrete effects it has on thought.

The idea that our brain is so "mechanical" though in its operation wouldn't sit well with a lot of people, who imagine our consciousness and humanity as some mystical quality imparted divinely.

I think I would have reacted similarly to her though, in her amazement at how her own brain worked.

I really think the closer we get to understanding precisely how the brain works, it would have significant implications throughout society, particularly politics...

[Edited on November 11, 2008 at 1:01 AM. Reason : ]

11/11/2008 12:42:02 AM

very good video.

almost gave me wood

11/11/2008 12:49:51 AM

neuroscience is the most fascinating branch of science to me. was listening to a tape today of a guy talking about how most neuroscientists are battling the notion of a free-flowing, ethereal consciousness that is independent of the brain (where some might see the brain as sort of an antenna for consciousness), and how they feel they are on the brink of a great discovery to this effect. having done some consciousness experimentation of my own (ahem), i think that work in this field is perhaps the most important for our species to take on. i have to admit though, i'd be pretty disappointed if all my esoteric spiritual beliefs were shot down and proven to be false. not to mention needing new material for my coffee dates.

11/11/2008 1:09:07 AM

pretty sure this has been posted before

11/11/2008 9:32:29 AM

haven't watched the video, but I heard her on Fresh Air a couple months ago. It was really interesting
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91861432


^^ you're partially referring to the concept of "Naturalism", which states that there is nothing "outside" of the brain and that everything involved in consciousness, thoughts, the mind, etc is the result of physical processes. There are several consequences if this is true, including the possibility to create or build truly conscious artificial intelligence, or the ability to download/store/transfer the consciousness of a person into a machine, and vice-versa.
Here is a Yale neurosurgeon that writes about topics like naturalism, dualism and materialism this a lot
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=406
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=396
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=403
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?cat=8

11/11/2008 10:21:12 AM

Quote :

"haven't watched the video, but I heard her on Fresh Air a couple months ago. It was really interesting"

11/11/2008 10:48:04 AM

i cant leave the house without my morning stroke of "insight"

11/11/2008 12:36:30 PM

Quote :

"you're partially referring to the concept of "Naturalism", which states that there is nothing "outside" of the brain and that everything involved in consciousness, thoughts, the mind, etc is the result of physical processes. There are several consequences if this is true, including the possibility to create or build truly conscious artificial intelligence, or the ability to download/store/transfer the consciousness of a person into a machine, and vice-versa."

I don't see how storing or transferring would be possible without god-like technology, but assuming god like technology, it shouldn't be alarming or concerning that's how things work.

And I don't think most neuroscientists "battle" with naturalism, this is implicit in their work.

AI should certainly be possible, and I can't really see, other than for "religious" reasons why people doubt this.

11/11/2008 5:29:25 PM

I would love to be inside this guy's head for one of these 5-digit square calculations

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html


$1

[Edited on November 12, 2008 at 8:14 AM. Reason : dollar]

11/12/2008 8:14:34 AM

^ if you practice it a lot, squaring numbers is not really that hard.

11/13/2008 1:14:40 AM