brain (Page 22)

Both are similar to a computer – There are amazing similarities between the human brain, the nervous system of a worm, and a computer chip. Most of us understand the computer chip comparison, but the worm?

Science Daily quotes physicist Danielle Bassett as saying, “Brains are often compared to computers, but apart from the trivial fact that both process information using a complex pattern of connections in a physical space, it has been unclear whether this is more than just a metaphor.” Now scientists know that it’s a physical reality, because they’ve found that all 3 share 2 basic properties: The human brain, the worm’s nervous system, and a computer chip all have a structure in which the same patterns repeat over and over again at different scales.read more

It just sounds that way – An amazing reality that used to be thought of as science fiction is here today: Paralyzed people are learning how to access the internet using only their brains (NOTE: Subscribers can still listen to this show). The next step is typing and sending an email.

Engineering student John LaRocco wants to perfect this system so that it will no longer be necessary to insert an implant inside the brain. He is working on ways that people can use their minds to power a computer and other technology to complete a variety of actions, wearing a Lycra-like cap that is fastened securely under his chin with electrodes poking out of it.
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Your brain actually shrinks in winter, and now that spring is coming it’s expanding again. However, as you age, your personality may be what prevents it from returning to normal size in the spring. And neuroscientists say they can alter your ethics by manipulating your brain (NOTE: Subscribers can still listen to this fascinating show!).

Neuroscientists who studied the MRIs and the personalities of a group of people between the ages of 44 and 88 found lower amounts of gray matter in the frontal and medial temporal brain regions of people who tested as being extremely self-involved compared with higher amounts of gray matter in people who paid more attention to the needs of others.
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Not always better – Many researchers think that God resides in our brains, which is why neuroscience is often at the forefront of spirituality. And it turns out that bigger isn’t better (in brain size, anyway). If you find it hard to play video games, this could be due to the size of certain PARTS of your brain. And babies are getting smaller: Does this mean that human brains will be shrinking in the future as well? (NOTE: Subscribers can still listen to the 2009 Dreamland show with Dr. John Turner).

A bigger brain doesn’t necessarily make you smarter. Tiny insects (and birds, despite the appellation “bird brain”) can be much more intelligent than larger creatures with bigger brains.
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