Tommy Wennerstierna’s Post

ICYMI, we published the whole brain wiring diagram (connectome) of the fly. Definitely my proudest moment as an editor because of what it represents to neuroscience and the scope of the project, which included papers that USED the connectome to make new discoveries and generate new theories about how the brain works https://lnkd.in/enPmeM23

🧠 Unlocking the Mystery of the Left Brain Interpreter: Understanding Split-Brain Experiments 🌟 Have you ever marveled at the intricate workings of the human brain? Dive into the captivating realm of split-brain experiments, where pioneering neuroscientists Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga unveiled the enigmatic phenomenon known as the Left Brain Interpreter. In these groundbreaking experiments, researchers explored the profound implications of the brain's division into two hemispheres: the left and the right. While the left hemisphere reigns supreme in linguistic tasks, the right hemisphere excels in spatial mapping. Yet, it is the intricate interplay between these hemispheres, facilitated by the corpus callosum, that gives rise to our sense of a unified consciousness. Imagine a scenario where stimuli are presented separately to each hemisphere. When words are processed by the left hemisphere, patients can effortlessly articulate them. However, when processed by the right hemisphere, they are met with silence. This intriguing observation led to the discovery of the Left Brain Interpreter—a mechanism wherein the left hemisphere attempts to rationalize actions initiated by the right hemisphere. One of the most compelling experiments involved presenting images to each hemisphere simultaneously. Patients were tasked with selecting corresponding pictures using their left and right hands, each controlled by opposite hemispheres. Astonishingly, while they could accurately select pictures, they struggled to explain choices made by the right hemisphere. This phenomenon highlights the left hemisphere's propensity to fabricate explanations based on incomplete information—a fascinating insight into the complexities of human consciousness. The implications of these findings extend far beyond neuroscience, offering profound insights into human cognition and perception. By unraveling the mysteries of the Left Brain Interpreter, we gain a deeper understanding of how our brains construct reality and justify actions, even in the absence of complete knowledge. Join me on a journey into the fascinating world of split-brain experiments—a realm where science meets philosophy, and the boundaries of consciousness are continuously redefined. https://lnkd.in/djC83e9U #Neuroscience #Consciousness #BrainResearch #SplitBrainExperiments #LeftBrainInterpreter #ScienceOfMind

Did you know? The brain does not 'store memories'. It records fragments, and when you try to recall a memory it needs to be reconstructed, leading to slightly different results each time. The brain evolved to compensate for the lack of perfect recordings of events by filling in the gaps. Our cognative biases can also influence our recollection, leading to stories that reinforce our beliefs and expectations. https://lnkd.in/gyScn2bj

As the saying goes, less is more. If you're struggling with a long-standing problem, try taking something AWAY to solve it! 💡 As humans (adults actually, because children are much more rounded problem solvers naturally) we have a default response to problem solving that is ADDING something to solve it ➕ . Something new. A new technique. A new resource etc. Why? This is because additive ideas come to mind quickly and easily, but subtractive ideas require more cognitive effort 😮💨 And because all of our lives are busy, we tend to adopt the first additive solution rather than considering the more effortful subtractive solutions ➖ And what's worse, the more we use additive solutions, the more we engrain them as neurological habits, and the more likely we are to use them again as again...deepening the additive habit! 🤯 If you're curious about this, try starting with this piece of research from the University of Virginia: https://lnkd.in/dANqK7Au

Why? questions are often posed to discover disparities between expectations and ultimate actions. Yet due to the way brains are configured, it’s not possible. I’ve invented a new form of question based on brain science that can find authentic answers. #SharonDrewMorgen #OriginalThinker #Questions #WHYQuestions #FacilitativeQuestions https://bit.ly/4eHX2L0

Using fMRI, they originally tried the test on Cornish Game Hen (dead, defeathered, from the store) but achieved better results with a fresh (dead) salmon. "Craig Bennett set out to demonstrate how brain scans can (literally) produce fishy results. Bennet and his team purchased a dead Atlantic salmon from the store, placed their cooperative subject in a brain scanner, "showed" its photographs of people in various situations, and "asked" the salmon to guess what the people were feeling. Bennetts's team found what they were looking for: a tiny area in the salmon's brain flared to life in response to the task. Of course, this island of the brain activation was merely a statistical artifact. bennet and his fellow researchers had deliberately computed so many subtractions that chance alone caused a few of the results to become statistically significant despite their being entirely spurious." (Brainwashed, The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience, p19-20) What's the point? If you do many tests, at least some of them will come out positive, even if they are not real (even if you're a dead salmon.) We are pattern-seeking creatures. When making decisions we are subject to biases, especially confirmation bias and motivated reasoning. What is the solution? A robust strategy and decision process. Preferably run by a good, independent, objective facilitator. #DECISIONSCIENCE (See also https://lnkd.in/dhrg_f54)

People respond to incentives (monetary) - we get told again and again. To a point yes, however how people make decisions has its roots in complex cognitive neuroscience. This has a profound influence on how sociotechnical transitions, such as the one we are experiencing in the #energy sector play out. The Bandwagon Effect is an interesting one - very relevant. https://lnkd.in/gRGRgdTt

Did you know that scent has the power to reprogram your emotions? One sniff can stir feelings, unlock memories, and transport you back to the best (or worst) summer of your life. Got your attention? Check out the inaugural issue of the Create Better series, where I take you on a journey exploring the neuroscience behind scent and its application to experiences. 

Day 10 of the technical writing challenge initiated by John Onuorah . Most children are curious about their body parts and are even more curious about the part of their body they cannot see. They ask questions like: 1.Where does my urine come from? 2.Where is my heart? 3.What is inside my head? These questions are normal for growing children to ask. They always want to learn more about things. Children also want to know what exactly is in their head when they shake it, they want to know what their BRAINS are! Today, I will be writing about The Brain at a child's level. Neuroscience: The neurons Table of contents 1.What are neurons? 2.Where can I find a neuron in my body? 3.What does a neuron look like? 4.Why do I need neurons in my body systems?

Unveiling the Psychological Significance of the Rubber Arm Experiment in Phantom Limb Syndrome Phantom limb syndrome, a perplexing phenomenon where individuals perceive sensations or even pain in limbs that no longer exist, has long intrigued psychologists and neuroscientists alike. Insights have been drawn from the groundbreaking rubber arm experiment to unravel its mysteries. The rubber arm experiment, pioneered by neuroscientist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and colleagues, sheds light on the intricate interplay between sensory perception and body representation in the brain. By placing a rubber hand in the visual field of a participant and synchronously stroking both the rubber hand and the participant's hidden hand, researchers induce a compelling illusion where participants perceive the rubber hand as their own. This illusionary experience offers profound insights into the plasticity of body representation in the brain and has profound implications for understanding conditions like phantom limb syndrome. In individuals with phantom limb syndrome, the brain's representation of the missing limb remains intact, leading to vivid sensations and even pain emanating from the non-existent limb. The rubber arm experiment underscores the profound influence of visual and tactile cues on our perception of bodily selfhood and highlights the malleability of body image in the brain. By leveraging these insights, psychologists can develop innovative therapies for individuals with phantom limb syndrome, such as mirror therapy and virtual reality interventions, which aim to alleviate phantom limb pain and restore a sense of wholeness and embodiment. #PhantomLimbSyndrome #RubberArmExperiment #Neuroscience #Psychology #WaqarPsychology