Reading a book called Phantoms in the Brain. Assuming there is one, it is interesting to figure out how the brain works. Some of this knowledge is in the realm of speculation, but that's because neuro-science is in its infancy, compared to say, gravity, or electromagnetism. The author, a scientist of Indian origin in the US. He explains a lot of facts and a lot of speculative theories based on his experiments with his patients, and those of others.
Seems like he has some answers for questions about paralysis, and possible treatment for some types of it, and some ideas on how various parts of the brain (modules or components) perform what control functions. Interesting, that some forms of 'madness' are really due to damage to some small parts of the brain controlling for example, recognition of shapes, or some motor skills, or some numerical ability. The effect of damaged right brain and damaged left brain, are amazingly different.
Leaves you wanting to understand more, because the size of our brain (compared to other beings and our ancestors) is supposed to be larger. Now, if only we could start to use it.....
Showing posts with label Brains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brains. Show all posts
Beauty with Brains
This is triggered by an interview I watched on a TV channel. It featured the actress and director Nandita Das. Not sure how many people have seen her films, but she has starred in a few. I was struck by two things- the impact an upbringing (mainly parents)can have on a person's worldview. Secondly, that beauty and brains can go together, in spite of the dumb blonde jokes that we are all used to. Anyway, she is not blonde, nor fair, but still, beautiful to those who are not "fair-minded", or blinded by fair skin.
She spoke on a range of issues, including live-in relationships, her choice of films and her non-career mindedness as per Bollywood norms. I thought she came across as a balanced, Live-and-let-live kind of person, and more than that, as a genuinely nice person, compared to the many "naatakbaaz" (fake-sounding) people one comes across in large numbers on TV (maybe I have been watching too many financial analysts).
The interview was on DD, so I must also congratulate DD on a good subject for a nice interview.
She spoke on a range of issues, including live-in relationships, her choice of films and her non-career mindedness as per Bollywood norms. I thought she came across as a balanced, Live-and-let-live kind of person, and more than that, as a genuinely nice person, compared to the many "naatakbaaz" (fake-sounding) people one comes across in large numbers on TV (maybe I have been watching too many financial analysts).
The interview was on DD, so I must also congratulate DD on a good subject for a nice interview.
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