The Emerging Mind – A brain stimulus

Proving to be a creature that wonders at wondering, the study of development of brain and its functioning is becoming one of the most interesting areas of research. The Emerging Mind provides us with a lucid introduction to the challenging field of neuroscience. It is a five segment compilation of the 2003 Reith lecture series given by Dr.V.S.Ramachandran, a neurologist renowned for his work in the fields of behavioral neurology and psychophysics.
It begins with the first part,The Phantoms in the brain, deals with understanding of the normal brain functioning by looking at neurological oddities. Terming the scientific revolutions as upheavals in human thoughts this part traces the basics of brain anatomy and throws light on a few interesting disorders like Prosopognosia (face blindness), phantom limbs in the case of amputees, the Capgras syndrome ( when the wired link between vision and emotion is cut). The miracles involved in perceiving things is the topic of Seeing is Believing. Abnormalities like the neglect syndrome (that leads to cloudiness on the left side when the right parietal lobe is damaged) help us understand the crucial events of visual processing. The concept of neuroaesthetics forms the basis of The Artful Brain. Purple number and Sharp Cheese , briefs about Synasthesia (mingling of the senses) – wherein cross activation of the colour and the number areas take place. The New Philosophy called Neuroscience tells us that there are branches like neurocriminology and neurojurisprudence, on the brink of development. The importance of brain imaging studies like PET, MRI, fMR and scalp EEG potential has been highlighted.
The author shows how simple scientific experiments prove to be effective solutions for daunting problems. The thought process involved in decoding the problem amazes the reader and thus the book hooks anyone reasonably interested in this field. It truly exemplifies the following principle formulated by Lenin…
“The popular writer leads his reader towards profound thoughts, towards profound study, proceeding from simple and generally known facts; with the aid of simple arguments or striking examples he shows the main conclusions to be drawn from those facts and arouses in the mind of the thinking reader ever newer questions. The popular writer does not presuppose a reader that does not think, that cannot or does not wish to think; on the contrary, he assumes in the undeveloped reader a serious intention to use his head and aids him in his serious and difficult work, leads him, helps him over his first steps, and teaches him to go forward independently.”

P.S : Thank you, Mr.Editor...

The Silent Spectator

Welcome to the peep culture! The webbed foot of the internet has spread to every nook and cranny of our dearest planet knitting it together like never before! Social networking sites and their tributaries, as a means of keeping in touch have become a rage online. What with the growing popularity of blogging, orkutting, facebooking, tweeting, digging, buzzing and the like influencing us, moving towards the virtual world seems only natural. Of course, there are innumerable advantages of these connecting people sites earning and working hard on a hell lot of things. Getting in touch with an old buddy, acquainting with like-minded people, maintaining relationships, remembering birthdays, following celebrities, getting updates on ‘world affairs’ and just looking around-everything comes easy! Yet, the irksome narcissistic attitude displayed is just hard to ignore.  Projecting one’s image (if there is one) seems to take the top slot!  So, how does it feel to be a part of the bandwagon? What if someone wasn’t an active participant, but a mere observer – a silent spectator?  She* can as well be considered dead! Lifecasting, mindcasting, egocasting, silvercasting, screencasting, Godcasting and all other the newly coined terms are trivial for her. She was just curious about the happenings around and didn’t want to lose out on the online race. A taste of it is enough to satiate her. “Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly” is a quote she believes in. And that curiosity keeps her going, keeps her alive (online).  She is a staunch supporter of worldly, humanly, literally touchable and changeable things. Certain exaggerated personal details turn her off. Stupid things being sensationalized appall her.  Yet, she’s happy about the instant access it gives to a lot of funny, relaxing and de-stressing modes of life. Although she can digest the unwanted things that come along, it takes time. Let her survive!

* The ‘she’ notation is subject to change, according to the reader. 

Remembering Independence...

Independence. Something that every soul strives for. Some factor that increases self-respect, self-confidence and self-love. An ethical egoism for a comfortable livelihood. Where personal space is given utmost importance. Sometime when the 'Don't intrude' and 'I can do what I want' signs are seen. Oops, the last phrase just slides into arrogance.

When Independence can mean SO much to an individual, that SO much multiplied by n (the population) = the required amount of it for a nation. Only such an amplified, burning desire for the ever-cherished, ever-sought after Independence did free us, the Indians, from the British monopoly. Stepping into the 64th year has not been a graceful affair. Fair enough. But as a citizen, one can ponder about this.    Am I respecting my compatriot? No matter how different he is. The difference here is in terms of culture, gender, class, religion, caste, economic status. And the respect includes what we are supposed to be doing if we find him in a troubled position ( It should actually be - if he find him in a state less than equal to ours). To think of it now, Are we (as a nation) really independent ? Do we really have the sense of unity? Availing independence day offers, sending text - picture messages-mails- wishing people and most importantly, enjoying the holiday makes us just (apathetic!) city-zens. We can just debate if India will become a superpower by 2020 (that's a decade from today). We can only see the shining India.

   What about the malnourished, the uneducated, the maoists-naxalites-terrorists, the erratic weather, the urbanization, the screwed up judiciary, the caste census etc etc etc? Interfacing all these with the superpower dream..and there we go..blank. Munch on. Keep thinking. By the way, A very Happy Independence Day to you.