Summary: Neurologist Vs. Ramachandran
• Neurologist V.S. Ramachandran (from the in-class video) claims brain connections are “labile and dynamic.” Proves his point by using mirror boxes to help amputees relieve pain in their “phantom limbs.” (page 55)
• Brain has two images, the original genetic image and an updated image that reacts to changes. (page 56)
• Possible that neural pathways are made or reused to fill on holes in one’s self image. (page 56)
• “Zombies” are our unconscious minds and are able to function independently. Claims that our minds have many zombies but they we still us “I” when we think. (page 57)
• The “passionate self” is found in the amygdala and controls our emotional responses. (page 57)
• Some epileptic people have feelings of divine intervention or presence
when their limbic circuits are hyperactive. Referred to as “God in the limbic system.” (page 58)
• A baby might make its mother part of its body image, when the mother is not around the baby feels as if it is missing part of its body and cries for help. The opposite can occur. (page 59)
• Terrence Deacon stated that our large prefrontal lobes can account for human’s sensitivity to psychological problems. (page 61)
• Theater helps personify our self by seeing our thoughts and feelings on stage. We are able to see complex emotions such as pain, fear and loss mirrored on other people. (page 63)
• Even after death, our phantoms still roam the earth because they are the influences that we left behind. They are alive in other people’s minds. (page 65)
Questions:
• Why is theater such a good medium to reflect our internal thoughts and desires?
• Do you see any downsides to being able to trick the mind into thinking it has a limb when it is really a phantom?
• What do you think about Ramachandran’s idea that we have “zombies” in our head that think independently? Is zombie the best word for our unconscious desires?
• Brain has two images, the original genetic image and an updated image that reacts to changes. (page 56)
• Possible that neural pathways are made or reused to fill on holes in one’s self image. (page 56)
• “Zombies” are our unconscious minds and are able to function independently. Claims that our minds have many zombies but they we still us “I” when we think. (page 57)
• The “passionate self” is found in the amygdala and controls our emotional responses. (page 57)
• Some epileptic people have feelings of divine intervention or presence
when their limbic circuits are hyperactive. Referred to as “God in the limbic system.” (page 58)
• A baby might make its mother part of its body image, when the mother is not around the baby feels as if it is missing part of its body and cries for help. The opposite can occur. (page 59)
• Terrence Deacon stated that our large prefrontal lobes can account for human’s sensitivity to psychological problems. (page 61)
• Theater helps personify our self by seeing our thoughts and feelings on stage. We are able to see complex emotions such as pain, fear and loss mirrored on other people. (page 63)
• Even after death, our phantoms still roam the earth because they are the influences that we left behind. They are alive in other people’s minds. (page 65)
Questions:
• Why is theater such a good medium to reflect our internal thoughts and desires?
• Do you see any downsides to being able to trick the mind into thinking it has a limb when it is really a phantom?
• What do you think about Ramachandran’s idea that we have “zombies” in our head that think independently? Is zombie the best word for our unconscious desires?