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"Discovery Files" Features from the National Science Foundation
"Frame of Mind"
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SOME THOUGHTS ON THINKING... THE "DISCOVERY FILES": NEW ADVANCES IN
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
NEW BRAIN RESEARCH OUT OF CARNEGIE MELLON INDICATES THAT
THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON IN OUR "MELONS" THAN WE MIGHT THINK.
THE STUDY FOCUSED ON THE ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN, WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT
PICTURES OF SIMPLE THINGS, LIKE TOOLS OR DWELLINGS. IT SEEMS
SIMPLE AT THE OUTSET; BUT, ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCHERS, WHEN YOU LOOK
AT A PICTURE,
A WHOLE RANGE OF BRAIN CENTERS ARE ACTIVATED. SAY THAT YOU'RE
LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF A HAMMER; ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH, YOUR BRAIN
MIGHT GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS: "SHAPE--HAMMER; BALL-PEEN..." /
"FUNCTION--TOOL; DRIVES NAILS..." / "SENSORY--COLD; METALLIC; HEAVY..."
/ "MOTOR SKILLS--LIFT; SWING; STRIKE...". IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
"SEE" THE BRAIN-ACTIVITY, THE SCIENTISTS USED AN M-R-I SCANNER--AND
TRAINED A COMPUTER TO LOOK AT THE SCANS AND IDENTIFY BRAIN-ACTIVATION
PATTERNS. IN THIS WAY, THEY COULD TELL WHICH OF 10 POSSIBLE
PICTURES THAT STUDY-PARTICIPANTS WERE LOOKING AT. THE STUDY ALSO
UNCOVERED A COMMONALITY AMONG RESPONSES OF ALL PARTICIPANTS: IT
SEEMS THAT YOUR BRAIN-ACTIVITY AND MINE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, WHEN
WE WE'RE THINKING OF THE SAME OBJECTS. THIS RESEARCH COULD OPEN
NEW DOORS TO UNDERSTANDING CONDITIONS LIKE AUTISM. THE "DISCOVERY FILES" COVERS PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH BROUGHT TO YOU
BY YOU! LEARN MORE AT
"N-S-F"-DOT-GOV--OR
ON THEIR PODCAST.
For additional "Discovery Files" features from the National Science Foundation, click here.
