How Is Your Brain Easily Fooled?

Okay, here are 5 places this week’s brain train has taken me. Possibly a bit off-track …

Cognitive Astrobiology

Well, finally scientists have moved beyond the self-centered notion that humans on earth are the only possible place for “advanced” life forms in the universe. To that end, there is now a field of study one can take up – cognitive astrobiology. It essentially invites us to consider what forms alien life might actually take, given a wide combination of star system possibilities; and then how humans might actually go about communicating with such life forms. Some of you may already personally know a few aliens and you can probably testify to just how difficult communicating clearly with them frequently is.

Noticing, But Failing to See

Having been the victim of this brain vulnerability – a woman turned left right in front of me years ago while I was riding my motorcycle – I found it particularly interesting. I also found the phenomenon something to be acutely aware of and important to monitor in myself, lest I end up being the inattentionally blind person responsible for others’ injury and suffering.

Sleight of Hand Shows Limits of Perception

One of my longtime interests is how magicians take advantage of our brain’s significantly limited capacities when it comes to consciously processing sensory energy and information. In this brief demonstration of close-up card magic, astonishing Spanish magician Javi Benitez makes it more than obvious that seeing in no way should ever be sufficient to confirm believing.

Intelligence and Neural Connections

The researchers in this area could use a few more neural connections themselves. A sufficient number that would take them beyond simply identifying the experimental correlations, but to come up with creative procedures for actually increasing those connections. I’m happy to give them a hint: begin early in childhood with safe exposure to lots of stimulating, contingent learning activities while keeping the body in coherent motion. Feel free to begin experimenting prenatally. In utero mixed martial arts – I’d like to see it become a Thing.

The Elusive Backfire Effect

It’s hard to change people’s opinions once they’ve come to believe a fact or taken a position. Or so we used to think. It turns out that even that belief is not necessarily true, and I may want to consider changing my beliefs about it. You may want to as well after you read this recent research.

Journeying Down the Erotic Road Less Traveled By

Given all the sex abuse scandals in the news these days, I thought it might be useful to re-post this blog I wrote 6 years ago. What’s missing from a lot of the media coverage are the unconscious orchestrations – the body’s and brain’s impulses toward healing taking place in BOTH participants. What were the relationship dynamics before the abuse happened? In what context did the abuse take place? What unconscious processes were driving BOTH participants? My guess is that very little healing happens in response to most of the abuse or in the events that unfold in the aftermath. (Blog Note: Tori and I are still friends).