Ram Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 Its a speech by Indian-born neuro-scientist Dr.Ramachandran, who explains three neurological disorders in a very attractive way. What strikes me most is that amount of neuro-science that is actually been formulated through educated guesses and assumptions. Rl2LwnaUA-k
Brainfade Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 What an engaging speaker. Rumors are that VR has come very close to winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, and is still said to be in contention. One of his claims to fame is his theory on the "God Center" - the part of the brain that controls obeisance to a perceived higher power. As a biochemist/cell biologist, I am not surprised at the hitherto hypothetical nature of neuroscience. Progress in Neuroscience is directly tied to progress in non-invasive, real-time imaging techniques. Thanks for posting that! On another note - did you note the "racist" comment he made about Jewish people? "Sexist" comment about PMS? Interesting.
Ram Posted February 28, 2008 Author Posted February 28, 2008 Cricaddict, I have two doubts from what VR had explained in the video. As far the as the Capgras delusion goes, he says the "circuit connection" between the Face recognition part of the brain and the Emotional part of the brain is cut, which is why the person suffering from this disorder think their Mom is an imposter because they can recognize its their mom, but cant seem to invoke the same kind sentiments/emotions as they did before. My obvious doubt then is, How come the person then be able to associate emotions of fear when he sees a predator ? After all, he knows its lion, but shouldnt he, technically, not be afraid at all. As far as the Synesthesia syndrome is concerned, VR says its due to a cross connection between the numbers part of the brain and the Color/Sound part of the brain, which is why, whenever a person sees a number, he associates it with a color or a sound. Conversely then, shouldnt the same person, when he sees a color or hears a tone, associate it with a corresponding number ? VR never addresses this point.
Ram Posted February 28, 2008 Author Posted February 28, 2008 On another note - did you note the "racist" comment he made about Jewish people? "Sexist" comment about PMS? Interesting. The comment on Jews and their Moms isnt racist. Its like imitating someone else's accent. It was made more in jest. But yea, the comment on PMS certainly seemed very mocking to me.
Brainfade Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 Cricaddict, I have two doubts from what VR had explained in the video. As far the as the Capgras delusion goes, he says the "circuit connection" between the Face recognition part of the brain and the Emotional part of the brain is cut, which is why the person suffering from this disorder think their Mom is an imposter because they can recognize its their mom, but cant seem to invoke the same kind sentiments/emotions as they did before. My obvious doubt then is, How come the person then be able to associate emotions of fear when he sees a predator ? After all, he knows its lion, but shouldnt he, technically, not be afraid at all. He didn't specifically say that the patients fear visual images of lions (or not). He talks about the fear response in "normal" people, then the lack of emotional response in patients with regard to their mother. My guess is that the patients will not fear the visual image of a lion, but will jump out of their seats if they hear a roar from a tape recorder. As far as the Synesthesia syndrome is concerned' date=' VR says its due to a cross connection between the numbers part of the brain and the Color/Sound part of the brain, which is why, whenever a person sees a number, he associates it with a color or a sound. Conversely then, shouldnt the same person, when he sees a color or hears a tone, associate it with a corresponding number ? VR never addresses this point. [/quote'] Once again, he has oversimplified. The way I understand it is like this - the synesthetes' brain takes a cognitive (learned) item like a letter or number and attaches it to a sensory component (color or sound) that it already knows. The key here is to realize that we first develop the ability to perceive sensory components , whereas the cognitive component come later. Thus the brain already knows colors and sounds even before it is exposed to the letters and numbers. Thus, the synesthetes' brain attaches the cognitive component (A,B, C, D) to the sensory component (pink, blue, green, red) that it already knows - and never lets go of that connection. In some rare cases, there is bidirectional synesthesia. I hope that makes sense. I am struggling with my articulation.
Brainfade Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 The comment on Jews and their Moms isnt racist. Its like imitating someone else's accent. It was made more in jest. But yea' date=' the comment on PMS certainly seemed very mocking to me.[/quote'] I understand and agree (which explains the "quotes"). It is stereotyping, for sure. Some people, especially of the green-and-yellow ilk, may consider it racist. I don't even consider the PMS comment offensive (in an American setting). But then, I am easy-going about stuff like that.
Ram Posted February 29, 2008 Author Posted February 29, 2008 He didn't specifically say that the patients fear visual images of lions (or not). He talks about the fear response in "normal" people' date=' then the lack of emotional response in patients with regard to their mother. My guess is that the patients will not fear the visual image of a lion, but will jump out of their seats if they hear a roar from a tape recorder. [/quote'] I think a person who suffers from the Capragas delusion will definitely feel the sense of fear, if he sees a predator and not just hears it. In some rare cases, there is bidirectional synesthesia. Are you sure on this ? Coz that is the important questions that i have, reg. VR's explanation of Synesthesia. BTW, I am curious. What is it, with the Jews and their Moms ? I figured that it something mocking the jews, but cant exactly place what stereotype he was mocking.
f.b.m Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 There's more of Ramachandran on the "Beyond Belief" talks. I've been following his stuff for about 2 years now.
Brainfade Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 I think a person who suffers from the Capragas delusion will definitely feel the sense of fear' date=' if he sees a predator and not just hears it. [/quote'] If what you are saying is true (and it may well be), it may be explained like this - a Capgras patient's fear is from "lions," not a particular lion. In other words, when he sees a lion, it may look like an impostor lion to him - but it still is a lion. With people and pets, of course, you are able to make more subtle recognitions. Are you sure on this ? Coz that is the important questions that i have' date=' reg. VR's explanation of Synesthesia.[/quote'] Yessir. Bidirectional synesthesia does exist, but it is rare. In most cases, it is unidirectinal. BTW' date=' I am curious. What is it, with the Jews and their Moms ? I figured that it something mocking the jews, but cant exactly place what stereotype he was mocking.[/quote'] They have a reputation of being overbearing and embarrassingly affectionate. I guess one can consider them the embodiment of the Freudian obsession with the Oedipus complex.
Brainfade Posted March 3, 2008 Posted March 3, 2008 There's more of Ramachandran on the "Beyond Belief" talks. I've been following his stuff for about 2 years now. Is that the Nova site? Cool stuff. I love his explanation of the "God Center."
f.b.m Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Is that the Nova site? Cool stuff. I love his explanation of the "God Center." I dont know if its that but someone loaded it on youtube so here it is: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZClfg_kzwE]Part 1 - V.S. Ramachandran at Beyond Belief 2006[/ame] [ame= 2 - V.S. Ramachandran at Beyond Belief 2006[/ame]
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