DailyDirt: Braiiins...

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Aug 9th 2011 5:00pm — Michael Ho

The human brain is a mysterious organ. We don't really have many ways of figuring out what's going on inside people's heads, but there are a few primitive techniques that are starting to delve into the activities of the brain. Here are just some examples of interesting projects studying our brains.

UCSD researchers have studied the Uncanny Valley to find that human brains like it when their expectations are met -- human-like movements should be accompanied by humans. Conversely, brains don't like to be fooled. [url]
Using electroencephalography (EEG), there might be a way to predict the development of autism before the age of three. Earlier diagnoses could then lead to more effective treatments... [url]
To learn about consciousness, it might be helpful to figure out how the brain goes into un-consciousness. Just stick about 32 electrodes on a bunch of people's heads, give them all some anesthetics, and watch their brain activity for patterns. Lather. Repeat. [url]
An fMRI brain scanner that can read people's intentions sounds like an awesome tool. Rock Paper Scissors will never be the same. [url]
To discover more interesting articles on the human mind, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: brains, eeg, electroencephalography, fmri, uncanny valley

6 Comments

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colony (profile), 9 Aug 2011 @ 6:00pm

genetically remove fear
this really should be on the list like. have you seen the look on the cats face. it's all wtf?? comical.
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colony (profile), 9 Aug 2011 @ 6:32pm

hahah
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/university-team-creates-mutant-mouse-with-no-fear-of-cats- 399447.html
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Michael Ho (profile), 9 Aug 2011 @ 6:38pm

Re: genetically remove fear
.. in people?! Hmm. I think there's actually a condition where people are completely trusting and they don't pick up on when to be afraid of other people. I'll have to dig up that link some other day... :)
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2011 @ 11:08pm

Rock Paper Scissors
is an evil game.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2011 @ 11:20pm

The autism story really caught my eye. If diagnostics can help a child with autism possibly live a better life, I am for this. I am not convinced there can be a 'cure'. If one could call something a cure that would most likely too invasive as to make quality of life poor. But, looking at families that are raising individuals with autism, I believe studies such as this one are valuable. Thanks for linking the article.
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Peter S. Chamberlain (profile), 10 Aug 2011 @ 11:31pm

Brain, electronics, etc.
Interesting.
I stumbled across an article in Fortune awhile b ack that noted that we still don't know much about hw the six (6O), always six (6), layers of the cerebral cortex communicate and work. I think Paul Allen was said to have funded some research on this.
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