This is an interesting talk between punk musician, author, and all-around interesting guy, Henry Rollins and neuroscientist David Eagleman, author of Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain (2011). Thanks to the IEET (Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies) for posting this on their site. Lucid Dreaming Brainwave 2011 | Posted: Mar 13, 2014 Henry … Read more
In a new article in the journal Social, Cognitive, Affective Neuroscience has identified the mechanism by which we tend to feel pain when we empathize with those who have been socially excluded. Here is a brief summary of the research: [A]n ecologically valid experience of social exclusion recruits areas coding the somatosensory components of … Read more
Recently, I shared an article from George Dvorsky called “You Might Never Upload Your Brain Into a Computer,” in which he outlined a series of reasons for his position: 1. Brain functions are not computable2. We’ll never solve the hard problem of consciousness 3. We’ll never solve the binding problem 4. Panpsychism is true 5. … Read more
In this paper that appeared in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience toward the end of 2013, researchers found that there is a significant correlation between plasma omega-3 fatty acids and the maintenance of executive function in aging adults (mean age = 86). Each 100 μg/ml increase in plasma O3PUFA associated with 4 s less change in … Read more
I think we need to drop the “might” from that headline and replace it with “will.” Still, George Dvorsky gets a big AMEN from me on this piece from io9 (even if it is a year old). For the record, however, I feel compelled to lodge my disagreement with point #5, that “mind-body dualism” is … Read more
Family problems are now recognized as a contributing factor for mental illness – and there is brain imaging research to support what many therapists have known for decades. Using brain imaging technology to scan teenagers aged 17-19, the researchers in this study found that those who experienced mild to moderate family difficulties between birth … Read more
It’s my favorite time of year – the annual Zen Brain Conference at Upaya Zen Center, hosted as always by Roshi Joan Halifax. Among the regular attendees who were there again this year were Richard Davidson, Evan Thompson, Al Kaszniak, and John Dunne. This year’s topic was Consciousness, Complex Systems, and Transformation. In this intensive … Read more
In this interesting new article from Frontiers in Neuroscience: Neurogenesis, the authors offer an opinion piece on the limitations and potentials of cellular replacement and cellular plasticity in the context of brain repair – with a special focus on remote plasticity. Full Citation: Quadrato G, Elnaggar MY, and Di Giovanni S. (2014, Feb 12). Adult neurogenesis … Read more
This is an interesting post on the nature of consciousness and dissociation in psychosis. Mental Experience and Dissociation in Psychosis By Ann Reitan, PsyD | Brain BloggerDecember 1, 2013 The experience of our minds may be shaped by belief. The idea that our minds are whatever we imagine them to be may seem like an … Read more
Dr. Charles Raison with the Dalai Lama. Dr. Charles Raison is the Barry and Janet Lang Associate Professor of Integrative Mental Health with the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arizona (with a joint position in the School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry). Dr. Raison joined the UA to … Read more