Author: gg42
Scientific Misinformation
Stuart Hameroff, MD, is an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona. In one of many articles and videos about consciousness on the Huffington Post, Hameroff describes how anesthesia can help explain consciousness. If the brain produces consciousness (all aspects of the term), then it seems to follow that turning off the brain will […]
Replacing Neurons
Imagine: a mad scientist with a ray gun shoots at a neuron somewhere in cortical layer IV of your visual area MT, burning it up in a matter of microseconds (just for fun, imagine also that the ray gun leaves everything else intact). With one neuron missing, you probably won’t notice any perceptual change. But what […]
Reading Good for You
Research has shown that reading stimulates white matter growth, improves memory, and in general makes you smarter. If you think any of those things are good for you, visit Project Gutenburg, a collection of thousands of free e-books. Disclaimer: reading is not intended to cure any disease. Consult your physician before engaging in excessive reading. […]
Extra extra!!! Storm brewing in espresso shot!
The media is always hungry for juicy stories about anything. Topics of interest range from Lindsey Lohan’s latest adventures to the implications of another political ethics violation. The science writers at the New York Times are no exception. Dennis Overbye confessed in an essay yesterday that some writers are so eager to report on sensational […]
Blue Brains
Henry Markram talks about the Blue Brain project
Toasters With Feelings
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or God. It has been a hallmark of faiths and religions worldwide. Humans have a natural tendency to assign intentions and desires to inanimate objects (“my computer isn’t feeling well today – he’s so slow!”), but they also strip “lower” beings (animals) of those […]
On "Daring to Discuss Women in Science"
New York Times columnist John Tierney recently dared to discuss women in science (the occasion being the passing of a law called “Fulfilling the potential of women in academic science and engineering” in the House). The problem is well known: there are fewer women than men in the top scientific positions at universities. Speculations about […]
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Awards BU Neuroscience $1.5 million!
Story here.
“Memristors” to replace your neurons? Thanks, but no thanks.
Researchers at the Hewlett-Packard laboratories in California have produced tiny electronic switches called memristors (shortening of memory-resistor) that have the potential to revolutionize computing. Traditional electronic devices use small switches called transistors as the elements of information storage and transfer. A typical computer may have millions of transistors, which may be on the scale of […]
Evolutionary Neurobehavior Laboratory
Cool Link: The Evolutionary Neurobehavior Laboratory takes an evolutionary approach to understanding neurobehavioral traits and systems in human beings. They study a variety of topics, particularly sleep, Parkinson’s Disease, and religion. Read more here.