Does intelligence lie within us? Is it only a matter of tapping into it?
Research by Professor Allan Snyder, Director of the Centre for the Mind at the University of Syndney, reported surfacing of savant intelligence in the normal population when subject to TMS. Savant intelligence, or savant syndrome as is the term normally associated with autistic children, describes an extranordinary genius-like mental feat for certain isolated abilities such as memory, art, music, arithmatic, etc. Checkout Derek Paravicini (blind musician), George Widener (calculator and calendar skills), Alonzo Clemons (sculptor), and the character of Dustin Hoffman (portraying the autistic man Kim Peek) in the movie "Rain man" (1988) for a better idea of savant intelligence. TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is a technique that uses electromagnetic induction - induction of electrical pulses through the brain using oscillating magnetic fields. This technique can be used to either excite or suppress certain regions of the brain, and hence has been used as a research tool for mapping out brain functions and also as a diagnosis tool (for depression and hallucinations for example). The drawings below show the results of one of Snyder's experiments when a participant was subject to TMS over a few minutes.  Isn't the performance remarkable? Read the article.Snyder asks whether the improved performace could be due to the shut down of brain regions responsible for conceptual, categorical and contextual thinking. He argues that genius skills are easy and natural, like learning to walk and mastering complex languages. "Everything is there, buried deep in our brains are phenomenal abilities, which we lose for some reason as we develop into 'normal' conceptual creatures." Although his theories are faced with inevitable criticisms, what if he's right? Do we even need TMS to alter the framework of our thinking and be better more intelligent and more creative beings?
A supernatural happening?
The year was 1997. Back then I had the habit of waking up at three in the morning for some concentrated studying. I always alarmed the clock before I went to sleep. This night I woke up with a start, remembered that I hadn't set the time the previous night, then looked at the clock to see it was sharp 3am. No surprises there, mind's a piece of reprogrammable software. I got to studying, which I did sitting up on the bed. Mine's the upper bunk, granny's the lower. Behind me was the door to the room that led to a hallway which was kept unlit. Although the door was open I wasn't able to see into the hallway cox it's not directly behind me but to a side.. After a while I started to hear someone walking in the hallway. The footfalls came closer, and then faded away. Up and down the hallway it went. I thought of going down and seeing who it was but it stopped after abt ten minutes or so. Only to start again after a while. I simply ignored it. Soon it was half three, four, half four, five..and it was still happening. I wasn't afraid whatsoever. Quarter past 5. As usual I woke granny up for morning prayers. It was all quiet by then. Down the hallway to the toilet she went. Back in the room, she started to pray and ho! and behold! there was the sound of footfalls in the hallway again! By the next day I had forgotten that it ever happened; until granny asked me if I had heard someone walking in the hallway the previous night. She was scared shitless, and that got to me. Had it been just me I would have written it off as a trick of the mind, but both of us? I'm not superstitious but seriously, how do u explain that? Tell me about any odd experiences you may have had, if you'd like to share them 
His voice is back!
Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert comic strip, recounts the trauma of losing his voice to Spasmodic Dysphonia and the struggle and success of getting it back. His story.Whoever said determination's not gonna get u anywhere..
Star bond
My brother Iko and his mates..  Nice, innit!? 
Attentional blink
One major limitation of the processing capacity of the brain is highlighted by the phenomenon of attentional blink. An attentional blink is the impaired ability to identify a second target in an 'RSVP' stream following the successful identification of a first target. RSVP or Rapid Serial Visual Presentation refers to the rapid successive presentation of stimuli, such as letters, digits or pictures, etc, at the exact same location at the rate of 6 to 20 items per second. Embedded within the RSVP stream is the 'target' stimulus which is different from the rest of the stimuli by some characteristic, e.g. a letter in a stream of digits, which is to be identified during the experiment. The attentional blink paradigm employs two or more target stimuli, i.e., identification of two letters in a stream of digits for example. Heres the interesting bit: impairment in the identification of the second target(T2) in the attentional blink paradigm is observed if only the second target is presented within 200 to 500 ms after the first target(T1). If the T2 is presented within 100ms after T1, it is still detected (called lag1 sparing) but with the accuracy of the reported T1 suffering. Demo: Try out the attentional blink paradigm here. There are a total of 30 trials. Results display the number of times both targets were correctly identified and the number of instances of attentional blink, for lag 3, 5 and 7. Do you notice more numbers of attentional blinks for lag3 compared with lags 5 and 7? Do you notice that the chances of correct identification of both targets increase as the distance between the targets increase (i.e., is lag7 the highest)? There's the attentional blink in practice! If you fancy reading up on attentional blink checkout the reference:- Raymond, J.E., Shapiro, K.L, & Arnell, K.M. (1992). Temporary suppression of visual processing in an RSVP task: An attentional blink? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18, 849-860.
The Rheinfalls
One of the most magnificent sights to the naked eye, the Rheinfalls in Schaffhausen, Switzerland is the most voluminous in Central Europe with an average flow of 600m3 per second in summer to 250m3 per second in winter. Though short in height, 23m/70 feet, the width of the fall spans to a whopping 150 meters (457 feet)! You can venture pretty close to the powerful waterflow, and the effect was dizzying, humbling...At one point I looked over the edge to see the wild water gushing right underneath at arm's length..I stood hypnotised, the water roaring in my ears, feeling like a floating spirit fighting to stay within the dampness of the misty flow...   (Above) View from the southern shore of the river: Rheinrocks stood proud and high in the midst of the raging water. Readily accesible via ferry rides!  Snapshot from the ferry...MAGNIFICENT is the word  Slippery winding steps led us up to the top of the bigger rock revealing some heart-wrenchingly beautiful views..  The smaller rock  An expanse of exquisite rapids! Aufwiedersehen, schon tag noch!
Train
This is not meant to look realistic, only err 'trippy'...  Is it? 
Autumn hues
Ground littered with leaves Shades of brown, yellow, red and orange One spectacular display by nature The icy wind swept off my face Heralding the colder days about to descend on us It's time to ditch the tanktops! It's time to ditch the slippers! And it's time to fetch the scarves, the gloves and the lot! The dawndew almost froze me this morning
The Maldives
Honeymooners' paradise..  I've taken the liberty of editing some pictures taken by my brother, I.ko. Ta, luv. For me the beaches, the sun and the water are the best the Maldives has got to offer, second only to the rich gardens and thriving life underwater. I've borrowed the idea from Jaheen, but unlike him I've used Photoshop for editing and presenting the pictures. Alright, here goes.. Enjoy! Mee raajje ey reethi, hih gaimu ras reethi.. 
Life
-By Charlotte Bronte- Life, believe, is not a dream So dark as sages say; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day. Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, O why lament its fall? Rapidly, merrily, Life's sunny hours flit by, Gratefully, cheerily Enjoy them as they fly! What though Death at times steps in, And calls our Best away? What though sorrow seems to win, O'er hope, a heavy sway? Yet Hope again elastic springs, Unconquered, though she fell; Still buoyant are her golden wings, Still strong to bear us well. Manfully, fearlessly, The day of trial bear, For gloriously, victoriously, Can courage quell despair!  To my dear husband, with luv.
Perceptual limitations
How much do you trust your senses?  ( source: Gerard Keegan and his psychology site) In the above picture, would you reckon that the three men are of the same height? They are, though your mind may tell u otherwise!
There are several cues in the above picture that makes our mind interpret it as a three-dimensional picture instead of a two-dimentional one. For instance, the vertical parallel lines on the background wall and the slanting horizontal parallel lines on the floor converge as they recede into the distance, creating a strong impression of depth by linear perspective. The depth cue also relates to the relative size of an object: objects of the same size further away appear smaller than ones closer to the observer. Therefore, even if the men were of the same height, the man furthest away appears taller because the size of the men were not adjusted to the depth cue!
This is only one example of the phenomenon of Premature Cognitive Commitment. In the early stages of our development we learn and form assumptions about the way we perceive the world, and the constant invariant characteristics become fixated as our particluar reality. Observations of several experiments with animals confirm the theory. Flies in an enclosed jar are not able to escape if the lid is removed after a prolonged while, because the flies have made a "commitment in their body-mind that they're in a prison". Therefore, how we interpret our initial sensory experiences determines how subsequent experiences would be interpreted.
Deepak Chopra has made some interesting speculations: "...(senses) give us a distorted view. They breakup that wholeness into a small fragment and we call it reality. We happen to agree about it. We even call it "objective reality" and we have a whole methodology that we call "science" to explore that. If you really understood what science is, then science at least until now has not been a method for exploring the truth. Science has been a method for exploring our current map of what we think the truth is. And the map is not the territory. The territory that we explore really is an extension of the map we have. If we don't have the complete map then we will not explore the territory that is not within the framework of that map". So I ask. Is what we see what is actually out there?
Daisy Bell (A bicycle built for two)
From the American Popular Songs: "When Dacre, an English popular composer, first came to the United States, he brought with him a bicycle, for which he was charged duty. His friend (the songwriter William Jerome) remarked lightly: 'It's lucky you didn't bring a bicycle built for two, otherwise you'd have to pay double duty.' Dacre was so taken with the phrase 'bicycle built for two' that he decided to use it in a song." Read more on Wikipedia. Here's the lyrics of "Daisy bell" composed in 1892 by Harry Dacre.  There is a flower within my heart, Daisy, Daisy! Planted one day by a glancing dart, Planted by Daisy Bell! Whether she loves me or loves me not, Sometimes it's hard to tell; Yet I am longing to share the lot - Of beautiful Daisy Bell! (Chorus) Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer do! I'm half crazy, all for the love of you! It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage But you'll look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle made for two. We will go 'tandem' as man and wife, Daisy, Daisy! 'Peddling' away down the road of life, I and my Daisy Bell! When the road's dark we can both despise Policemen and lamps as well; There are bright lights in the dazzling eyes Of beautiful Daisy Bell! (Chorus) I will stand by you in 'wheel' or woe, Daisy, Daisy! You'll be the bell which I'll ring you know! Sweet little Daisy Bell! You'll take the 'lead' in each 'trip' we take, Then if I don't do well, I will permit you to use the brake, My beautiful Daisy Bell! If you fancy listening to the song, you can look for it here. Enjoy! 
West Yorkshire
The latter half of summer 2005 was spent in the company of my granny. We visited a few parts of West Yorkshire; including Leeds, Ben Redding, Ilkley and Bradford.
Whole leg orgasm
It's strange, it's rare and it's true. Some leg amputees have reported feeling sensations in their phantom limbs when sexually aroused. As a patient of Dr. V.S.Ramachandran reports, "...everytime I have sexual intercourse, I experience sensations in my phantom foot." He went onto say, "I actually experience my orgasm in my foot. And therefore it's much bigger than it used to be because it's no longer confined to my genitals." The explanation for the phenomenon comes from Wilder Penfield's sensory homunculus (shown in the diagram below). Each part of the body has a different position on the surface of the brain, and the sensory/motor homunculus is the map that shows the locations and the amount of space devoted to each body part on the brain surface. For example, lips and fingers are represented by a larger space because the number of nerve endings are greater than that from arms and legs. I hope that makes sense. For a more illustrative diagram of the sensory/motor homunculus, check out the cartoon portayal here.  There are three things to be noted from the sensory homunculus. Firstly, starting from the genitals, the successive body parts are toes, foot, lower leg and upper leg; and secondly, the area for the genitals is much less compared to the area representing the missing body organs of an amputee. If the sensory information coming from the genitals were to invade the larger area representing the dysfunctional limb, it would account for the heightened sensation in the phantom limbs reported during sexual intercourse. This also demonstrates the sheer capacity of the brain to cannibalize and rearrange itself for maximum efficiency in information processing. The third point to take notice is that there are breaks in the map, i.e., parts of the body that are next to each other are not necessarily next to each other on the sensory homunculus. This is significant because it helps to predict the body organs which would be affected by brain remapping in cases where other body organs are lost; for instance, maps of a phantom hand can be found on the face and on the left upper arm. Read more. It is the tidbits of faulty shortcomings that light a torch onto the complex and intricate workings of the magnificent machine we possess: the human brain.
Infantile amnesia
Ask a person what their earliest memory is and it would most likely be an event from the age of two years and upwards. The phenomenon of not being able to recall memories from the first few years of life is referred to as infantile amnesia. Recollection of autobiographical memories start from two and a half years old, with a sharp rise in recollection after around the age of 3 years.
It has also been observed that this concides with a second phenomenon that emerges during the same time frame of a child's developement. Infants below the age of two tend to refer to themselves in the third person, often using their own names to refer to themselves. However, around the age of 20 months children start to use words such as I, me and you, and display visual self-recognition through responding to their own images in mirrors and pictures. This transition to the awareness of oneself is referred to in literature as the emergence of self.
The theory is that this development of a cognitive self provides a new framework around which to organize new memories. It has been claimed that this cognitive advancement in the development of self marks the end of infantile amnesia and the beginning of autobiographical memory, although it has yet to be proved to be the only causal factor.
The encounter
I still can't believe it. I was walking back home from Uni. I passed the museum on Oxford road, looked ahead and saw a lad coming towards me, smiling. I opt for the quizical look, trying to place him. I made to say 'Hi, have we met before?' and his phone rang. I walked past, and then realized who it was. Kevin! Kevin Bratherton!!
 He was a star from the series Shipwrecked on Channel 4, worth checking out. Personalitywise, I'm not too crazy about any of the cast but I totally worshipped the series! It portrayed real life drama, an attempt by city-dwellers to get along as a community on a tropical island for twenty weeks straight. They were provided with the basic cooking utensils, building materials, and tools, but they were left to set up their own camp and prepare food from scratch on an open fire! It's a gripping plot, with two rival tribes on two opposing islands fighting to winover new shipwrecked castaways that show up every week. The tribe with the most number of people wins, with a prize money of GBP 70,000 in cash!  Perhaps it was just reminiscent of home... wud explain the infatuation with the series! 
A tentative attempt
Hiye, My very first attempt at blogging, so wish me luck. But hey, how do I kick start the golden engine, aye? First off, I'd like to share some very dear pictures to me, taken on a trip down to Colchester, the oldest recorded Roman town and allegedly the oldest town in Britain. The most appealing to me was the visit to Colchester Zoo. The sight of animals..more invigorating, more heart-warming. Here are a couple of my very favourite pics.  Woaa..wat a regal look, eh?
 A white tiger. Cute, ye?
 Sea lions..Taken just at the nick of time
Well, that's all, folks! For now. Tara
|
Isn't the performance remarkable? Read the article.
