‘Molecules of Madness’

Addressing the question of our obvious insanity at a causal level A Kickstarter collaboration with award winning film maker David Malone Davids Trailer on Youtube I wrote an article for Brainwaving just over a year ago, ‘Consciousness and the Direction of Structure’. What appeared to be...
July 4th, 2011 | Big Ideas, Consciousness, Science of the Mind | Read More

The neurons that shaped civilization

The neurons that shaped civilization
Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.
February 14th, 2011 | Science of the Mind | Read More

Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness

Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness
Every so often Al Frances says something that seems to surprise even him. Just now, for instance, in the predawn darkness of his comfortable, rambling home in Carmel, California, he has broken off his exercise routine to declare that “there is no definition of a mental disorder. It’s bullshit. I...
January 31st, 2011 | Science of the Mind | Read More

Wiping Minds

Wiping Minds
It is quite common, in these neurocentric days, to find statements from those who eagerly anticipate the final abolition of minds, with no thought to the consequences. One recent example was from archaeologist Peter Watson in the New Scientist, (quoted in Beauregard & O’Leary, 2007); “The...
August 3rd, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

A Brainwaving Computer

A Brainwaving Computer
Tan Le’s astonishing new computer interface reads its user’s brainwaves, making it possible to control virtual objects, and even physical electronics, with mere thoughts (and a little concentration). She demos the headset, and talks about its far-reaching applications. Tan Le is the head...
July 28th, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

Why can’t we stop Believing?

Why can’t we stop Believing?
Michael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things — from alien abductions to dowsing rods — boils down to two of the brain’s most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble. As founder and publisher of Skeptic Magazine,...
July 6th, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

Brain’s Master Switch Is Verified

Brain’s Master Switch Is Verified
The protein that has long been suspected by scientists of being the master switch allowing brains to function has now been verified by an Iowa State University researcher. Yeon-Kyun Shin, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology at ISU, has shown that the protein called synaptotagmin1...
June 1st, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

Amanda Feilding’s Talk at the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century Conference in San Jose

Amanda Feilding’s Talk at the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century Conference in San Jose
It’s great to be here today, with so many companeros, on this eve of the 16th of April, the day 67 years ago, when Albert Hoffman accidentally experienced his first LSD-trip, which launched the thousand ships on which we now sail. I set up the Beckley Foundation in 1998 for the purpose of scientifically...
April 25th, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

A Stroke of Insight

A Stroke of Insight
Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story.
April 19th, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More

EYE SPIRITS

EYE SPIRITS
It had been many years since I had last seen Don, one of my favourite college lecturers, so I was delighted to bump into him at a conference.  Back in the old college days he had been something of a Sean Connery look-a-like and was much admired by the girl students, so it was a shock to see him now...
March 18th, 2010 | Science of the Mind | Read More
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