The New York Times has an excellent article about Giulio Tononi, one of the few neuroscientists trying to understand consciousness in a way that may have a direct practical application – to create a medical device that can tell whether you are conscious or not. To be honest, I’ve been a bit bored with consciousness, [...]
17 Vote(s)
September 21, 2010
Dreams of a consciousness measuring device
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September 11, 2010
2010-09-10 Spike activity
Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news: Neuroscience hip-hop. The Beautiful Brain discovers a new track from Prince Ea where he waxes lyrical about the cortex. The neurobiological microphonist discusses the track here. The New York Times says to forget what you know about good study habits and discusses where the [...]
14 Vote(s)
14 Vote(s)
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August 16, 2010
Scientists go rafting
The New York Times has an odd feature article on how a group of cognitive scientists went into the ‘wilderness’ supposedly as part of a “quest to understand the impact on the brain of heavy technology use”. As far as I can make out, though, the entire story is ‘scientists go rafting’. No research was [...]
15 Vote(s)
15 Vote(s)
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July 24, 2010
A bit of all right
An interesting point made in a new book about the psychology of being wrong, appropriately called Being Wrong by author Kathryn Schulz.Taken from The New York Times book review:Schulz begins with a question that should puzzle us more than it does: Why do we love being right? After all, she writes, "unlike many of life's other delights - chocolate, surfing, kissing - it does not enjoy any mainline
8 Vote(s)
8 Vote(s)
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July 17, 2010
2010-07-16 Spike activity
Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:If you thought nothing could top the last 'digital drugs' news report, it has been surpassed. Experts consulted: school IT guy and school nurse - who simulates the sound of digital drugs with her voice. Thanks Mind Hacks reader alex!The New York Times asks 'When did we first rock the mic?' in an article on the historical lexicography of hip-ho
7 Vote(s)
7 Vote(s)
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July 7, 2010
what the Dunning-Kruger effect is and isn’t
If you regularly read cognitive science or psychology blogs (or even just the lowly New York Times!), you’ve probably heard of something called the Dunning-Kruger effect. The Dunning-Kruger effect refers to the seemingly pervasive tendency of poor performers to overestimate their abilities relative to other people–and, to a lesser extent, for high performers to underestimate [...]...
16 Vote(s)
16 Vote(s)
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June 22, 2010
Can an iPhone or other Smartphone Save Your Life?
Taking a brief break from this blog's focus on clinical neuroscience research I will summarize a recent TED MED presentation by David Pogue. The talk was titled "Can the iPhone Save Your Life?". The presentation was presented live in October of 2009 but just recently became available on the website.David is a key electronics guru and educator with a regular column in the New York Times. He was
10 Vote(s)
10 Vote(s)
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June 20, 2010
No More Best Friends - Next, No More Lovers?
A New York Times article, A Best Friend - You Must Be Kidding, described how schools now seek to discourage children from having best friends because one-on-one relationships are not the healthiest way for children to learn to relate to others.When I sent the article to my cousin, he described how his ten-year-old son's school won't let him sit with his best friend on the school bus.I understand
9 Vote(s)
9 Vote(s)
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June 16, 2010
June 3, 2010
An unwanted key to a devastating condition
The New York Times has a gripping article and video report about how a family in Colombia may be the key to unlocking the neuroscience of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, one of the most devastating forms of degenerative brain disease that can strike as early as the 30s or 40s.Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, meaning that the mind and brain decline quicker than would be expected through
11 Vote(s)
11 Vote(s)
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